After leaping 17.91m to secure the gold medal at Japan National Stadium on 19/9, Pichardo looked directly into the camera and declared, "Who's number one, kid? Who's number one?"
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Pedro Pablo Pichardo stares into the camera and sends a defiant message after winning the triple jump gold medal at the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships on 19/9. Photo: AP |
Pedro Pablo Pichardo stares into the camera and sends a defiant message after winning the triple jump gold medal at the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships on 19/9. Photo: AP
This was seen as a pointed message to Jordan Diaz, who beat Pichardo for gold at the 2024 European Championships and the Paris Olympics.
Diaz was absent from the final due to injury. The Spanish-Cuban athlete later responded, "A message to me? I wasn't even competing."
The rivalry between Pichardo and Diaz ignited at the 2024 European Championships in Rome. Pichardo publicly questioned Diaz's 18.18m winning jump, suggesting the electronic measuring system had malfunctioned. Diaz then defeated Pichardo again at the 2024 Paris Olympics. While the feud seemed to have cooled, Pichardo’s Tokyo declaration reignited the conflict.
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Pedro Pablo Pichardo (left) took silver, while Jordan Diaz (center) won gold in the men's triple jump at the 2024 Rome European Athletics Championships. Photo: Runners World |
Pedro Pablo Pichardo (left) took silver, while Jordan Diaz (center) won gold in the men's triple jump at the 2024 Rome European Athletics Championships. Photo: Runners World
In the final, Pichardo led with 17.55m until Italy’s Andrea Dallavalle surpassed him in the final round with 17.64m. Under pressure, Pichardo responded with a 17.91m jump to reclaim the lead and win gold. Dallavalle earned silver with a personal best of 17.64m, while Cuba’s Lazaro Martinez took bronze with 17.49m. This was also the farewell competition for African champion Hugues Fabrice Zango, who holds a personal best of 18.07m and is the only African athlete to surpass the 18m mark.
"I was scared at that moment, but I always save a little for the last jump," Pichardo said after his victory. "This medal is for my father, who has kept me mentally strong and will decide when I should retire."
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Pedro Pablo Pichardo competes in the triple jump final at the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships on 19/9. Photo: FPA |
Pedro Pablo Pichardo competes in the triple jump final at the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships on 19/9. Photo: FPA
At 31, Pichardo boasts an impressive collection of titles: Olympic gold from Tokyo 2020, Olympic silver from Paris 2024, two world championships, two European championships, and numerous indoor medals. Before becoming a Portuguese citizen, he won two world championship silver medals representing Cuba (2013, 2015).
However, Pichardo's career has been marked by controversy. He previously demanded to leave Portugal due to a conflict with Benfica, publicly complaining that soccer was prioritized and better compensated than track and field. The Olympic champion even stated, "Many reserve players who don't play earn more money than me, while I win the Diamond League and few people know about it."
Pichardo is thus both a source of pride for Portuguese athletics and a divisive figure in public opinion.
Hong Duy compiled this report
