Cuba’s rising long jump sensation Jorge A. Hodelín produced the performance of his young career by setting a new World Under-20 men’s long jump record of 8.46m at the Envol Trophée, a World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger meeting held in Pierre-Bénite, France, on June 13.
The 19-year-old delivered the historic jump in the second round, improving his previous personal best of 8.34m and surpassing the previous World U20 record of 8.38m, set by Italy’s Mattia Furlani during the 2024 European Championships. The record-breaking effort came with a legal wind reading of +1.9 m/s, making it eligible for official ratification.
Record-Breaking Series
Hodelín looked confident from the start of the competition and quickly established his rhythm on the runway. His sequence of jumps reflected remarkable consistency:
1st Attempt: 8.06m (+1.6 m/s)
2nd Attempt: 8.46m (+1.9 m/s) – New World U20 Record
3rd Attempt: 8.07m (+2.3 m/s) (wind-assisted)
4th Attempt: Foul
He then withdrew from the remainder of the competition after securing the historic mark.
A Giant Leap for the Cuban Teenager
The record-breaking jump is another milestone in Hodelín’s rapid rise on the international stage. Earlier this year, he finished fourth at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, and his latest performance confirms that he is ready to challenge the world’s top senior jumpers.
His 8.46m effort also placed him joint third on the 2026 world outdoor performance list, underlining that his achievement is not only exceptional among juniors but also highly competitive at the senior level.
Other Highlights from Pierre-Bénite
The meeting also witnessed several impressive performances across field events:
Thibaut Collet won the men’s pole vault on countback after clearing 5.82m.
Anthony Ammirati finished second with the same height.
Zackaria Dia, just 18 years old, also cleared 5.82m, setting a personal best and moving to second on the world U20 all-time list in the event.
Germany’s Christina Honsel claimed the women’s high jump title with 1.94m.
Rogilia Bissemo won the women’s long jump with 6.80m.
Competition Snapshot
Event: Envol Trophée (World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger)
Venue: Pierre-Bénite, France
Athlete: Jorge A. Hodelín (Cuba)
Event: Men’s Long Jump
Winning Mark: 8.46m
Wind Reading: +1.9 m/s
Achievement: New World U20 Long Jump Record (subject to ratification)
Previous World U20 Record: 8.38m – Mattia Furlani (Italy, 2024)
At just 19 years of age, Jorge Hodelín has delivered one of the standout performances of the 2026 athletics season. His record-breaking leap not only rewrites the World U20 record books but also signals the arrival of a genuine contender on the global long jump stage.
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