Olympic silver medalist Yulimar Rojas signs with FC Barcelona athletics team

Yulimar Rojas, the 21-year-old Olympic triple jump silver medalist from Puerto de la Cruz, Venezuela, has signed with FC Barcelona’s athletics team.

The signing took place Monday at the Club’s headquarters, and was attended by Barça’s Athletics Delegate, Vicente Egido, and Rojas’ coach, the former Cuban long jump champion, Iván Pedroso.

“I’m very proud to be able to defend the colors of this club, because I’ve been following it since I was a little girl,” she said. “I didn’t think twice.”

Rojas, who is 192 cm tall and weighs 72 kg, was the 2015 South American Champion, and is the reigning World Indoor Champion. She won the silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Her personal best is 15.02 m, which is a Venezuelan record. She also holds her country's record in the long jump, with a leap of 6.57 m.

“At Barça, I’ll have all the resources I need,” she said.

Pedroso, the coach, who won the gold medal in the long jump at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, echoed that sentiment.

“Yulimar is young and has enormous potential,” he said. “At Barça, she’ll be able to reach that potential and the badge will give her the international exposure she would never have gotten at any other Club.”

Barça, for its own part, is picking up a gem. Rojas is, “without doubt the most honored international athlete the Club has ever had,” said Egido, the Club delegate.

“Her signing proves that Barça is not just a multi-sports club, but also a reference worldwide,” he said.