Friday, November 3rd, 2023.- Cuban Luis Zayas retained his Pan American title by winning the high jump event in athletics at the Santiago 2023 Games.

In an emotional showdown, he cleared a height of 2.27 meters on his last attempt to outperform his main rivals for the gold, Puerto Rican Joel Luis Castro, who took the silver, and Bahamian Donald Thomas, who secured the bronze, both with three centimeters less than the winner.

Castro finished second as he achieved his best jump on the first attempt, while Thomas did so on the final attempt.

Zayas, who came to Santiago 2023 with the fifth-best world mark of the season, at 2.31 meters, had already won the Pan American gold at Lima 2019, where he jumped 2.30 meters.

"It was a highly competitive event, with tremendous rivals, and demanding jumps, like Joel Luis Castro and Donald (Thomas). It was a hard-fought medal, and I am happy to have won it this way," commented the champion.

Castro, on the other hand, missed out on securing the first Pan American gold medal for his country in 40 years since Jorge Luis González won the Caracas 1983 marathon.

Finally, the experienced 39-year-old Bahamian, Thomas, in his fifth appearance at the Pan American Games, clinched the bronze, his fourth medal in this competition.

Written by Marcelo López-Sebastián Farías; translated by Rocio Rojas / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo Marcelo Hernández / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport