Naida Calonge

A very happy birthday to elite Spanish triple jumper Naida Calonge, whose PB jump of 13.28m in Valencia this spring makes her the 7th-ranked U20 triple jumper on planet earth. Naida is one of those athletes who showed so much raw talent in so many different events as a U14 that eventually she was forced to narrow her focus. Although you won’t see it in her WA profile, Naida — who is 6 feet even, 1.83m if you prefer metric — was also an incredibly accomplished and successful high jumper in her early days. For her former team Guadassuar Maskokotas (she’s been with Playas de Castellon since 2021), she cleared 1.62m when she was TWELVE years old (that 1.62m would land you around #300 on the all-Europe U18 list today, for reference). And *that’s* the event she left behind! She’s got a long and successful career in front of her and it’s going to be fun to watch. Per molts anys, Maria! Molta salut, molta alegria i molts moments bonics a la pista. 🎂🎁🎉🫶