Hugues Fabrice Zango made history at the 2023 World Athletics Championships on Monday by becoming the first person to win a gold medal for Burkina Faso in the global athletics event.
Zango claimed gold medal in the men’s triple jump after a leap of 17.64 metres in his fifth attempt in Budapest etched his name in history books.
His success in Budapest is a progression of his performances after winning bronze at the 2019 World Athletics Championships then he followed it up with silver at the 2022 edition in Eugene.
Zango, ranked number 2 in the world in the men’s triple jump category, also became the first Burkinabe to win an Olympics medal with his bronze at Tokyo 2022 Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Jaydon Hibbert, who has the best jump in the world this season at 17.87 metres ran through the pit on his first attempt and clutched his hamstring before withdrawing from the competition.
Cuba’s Lazaro Martinez came second in Monday’s triple jump final with a 17.41m jump and his compatriot Cristian Napoles took bronze with a 17.40m jump.
