“I’d Love to Retire with Three Olympic Medals” — Pedro Pichardo
Pedro Pichardo, triple jump icon for Cuba and Portugal (Photo: Pedro Ferreira)
Olympic, World and European Champion — Pedro Pichardo is Portugal’s record triple jumper and one of only three men over 30 to jump beyond 18 metres.
In an interview with Portuguese newspaper Record, Pichardo talks about his rivalry with Jordan Díaz and reveals the very few goals that remain after the outstanding career he has had so far.
Also, he wasn’t pleased by the fact that World Athletics is omitting the men’s triple jump event at the Ultimate Championships.
The Only Thing Missing
The only title missing from Pichardo’s career is the World Record — Jonathan Edwards’ 18.29m from 1995 has never been matched or exceeded. However, being an athlete who has jumped 18.08m recently, it is nothing impossible though.
“It’s the only thing still missing — for me, for my father, for my team. If we talk about stats, I’d say I’m an eight or nine out of ten. There’s only one goal left. But it all depends on my health and how my body responds.”
That’s why 2024 was all about resting and recovering. Pichardo took time off and is now training again. But he’s being cautious and strategic — fewer competitions, more focus.
“This year we’re cutting down the number of competitions. I used to do ten. Now we’ll keep it to six or seven so my body can handle it and we get better results. Even in competition, I might jump once or twice and save my legs.”
Eyes on LA 2028
Pedro Pichardo casually qualifying for the Olympic triple jump final in Paris
At 32, many triple jumpers are declining. Not Pichardo. He wants to stay at the top all the way to Los Angeles.
“I would love to be there, to represent Portugal in three Olympic Games and bring home another medal. I’d love to retire with three Olympic medals. That’s the dream. But again, it all depends on how my body holds up. Triple jump is a brutal event. Anything can happen.”
“I don’t need to do 10 competitions and jump 18 metres every time to prove anything. It’s not about that anymore.”
No. 1 Rivalry in Track and Field
Pedro Pichardo vs Jordan Díaz
We all remember the triple jump final at the 2024 European Championships in Rome. It was one for the history books. Jordan Díaz took Gold for Spain with 18.18m while Pichardo took Silver for Portugal with 18.04m. Both athletes jumped beyond 18 metres, but it was the drama off the track that grabbed attention.
Before the Euros, Díaz told Cuban newspaper OnCuba:
After the final, Pichardo questioned why the electronic measuring system was briefly turned off during Díaz’s winning jump. In an explosive Instagram post he raised concerns about transparency and fairness, pointing out how the system was working for every other jump — except that one. He also suggested that Díaz appeared to celebrate even before seeing the result.
When asked about his relationship with Díaz, Pichardo clarified:
“We exchanged a few words at the hotel, but I think it ended there. It was resolved. Nothing more happened after that. Right now, everything’s calm — each of us is in his own lane. I think there was just a misunderstanding in how we interpreted each other’s words at the time.”
It may be calm for now, but fans are already hoping for another head-to-head showdown.
Omission of the Triple Jump Event
In 2026, World Athletics will introduce the Ultimate Championships, a three evening event with a prize fund of $10 million and winners receiving $150,000. Pichardo disagrees with World Athletics who excluded the men’s triple jump event:
“You cannot separate some events from track and field. Track and field is everything or nothing. I would like to get an explanation of why the event is being omitted.”
From Cuba to Portugal
Pedro Pichardo competing for Cuba at the 2013 World Championships
Pichardo also reflected on how different the training systems are between Cuba and Portugal.
“Cuba actually has better sports conditions than Portugal. Yes, the political situation is tough and I don’t agree with much of it, but I can’t deny the sporting system is good.”
In Cuba, Pichardo joined a sports centre at the age of 10 and followed a path designed to produce elite athletes.
“All you have to do is deliver results”
“That’s why there are always great athletes, especially now in women’s events too.”
Now representing Portugal, he’s seen the other side.
“In Portugal, unless you play football, it’s hard to get that kind of support. People don’t understand that triple jump is one of the most demanding events in athletics. The impact is huge. You have to train hard — sometimes too hard. And there’s not enough knowledge or support for that here.”
Pedro Pichardo has jumped a solid 17.03m this year to win the Shanghai Diamond League. Jordan Díaz has not competed in 2025 as of now.
Interview: Fabio Lima (@vo2maximopt) for Record
