Jordan Alejandro Díaz Fortún, a Cuban-born triple jumper who has gained Spanish citizenship, has been named one of the ten contenders for the European Athlete of the Year award, as announced by European Athletics.
In his debut season representing Spain, Díaz has delivered an outstanding performance, clinching the continental championship and more recently an Olympic gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
Prior to the French event, in June, Díaz showcased his talent by achieving the third-highest triple jump in history: 18.18 meters, during the European Athletics Championships held in Rome. In that competition, he had a thrilling showdown with Cuban-Portuguese jumper Pedro Pablo Pichardo, both surpassing the 18-meter mark.
The Spanish-Cuban athlete's 18.18 meters is only exceeded by legends Jonathan Edwards (18.29 m) and Christian Taylor (18.21 m). These remarkable accomplishments have secured Díaz's nomination for this prestigious award, which has been honoring the best athlete in Europe since 1993.
“Winning is almost impossible, but being nominated is already a huge step in my career. I am very grateful for the support I’ve received during this incredible year,” Díaz expressed on social media platform X upon learning of his nomination for the 2024 European Athlete of the Year.
Other Male Nominees
Besides Jordan Díaz, notable male athletes nominated include Lithuanian Olympic discus throw champion Mykolas Alekna and Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, who set three world records this year.
Female Nominees
In the women's category, prominent nominees include Dutch athletes Sifan Hassan and Femke Bol, Italian runner Nadia Battocletti, and Belgian heptathlete Nafissatou Thiam, among others.
The winners will be announced on October 26 at a gala event in Skopje, Macedonia.
The Bold Leap of Jordan Díaz
In 2021, Jordan Díaz made the bold decision to forgo competing in the Tokyo Olympics by leaving the Cuban training camp during a tour in Spain. This unexpected move highlighted his strategic focus on saving his strength to shine at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
With patience, Díaz awaited his Spanish citizenship and chose his training partner wisely: fellow Cuban and former long jumper Iván Pedroso, who is currently regarded as the world's best triple jump coach.
Since obtaining Spanish nationality in 2022, Díaz's career has been on an upward trajectory, culminating in his spectacular achievements in 2024.