Ruth Beitia: «I keep getting excited when I remember my Olympic gold»

Ruth Beitia, Olympic high jump champion in Rio’16. / manu cecilio

Interview

After her unforgettable victory in 2016 at the Rio Games, the Cantabrian jumper will experience a special moment by giving up her throne in Tokyo

It was five years ago. Four athletes played for Olympic gold in the high jump final. After breaking the bar over 1.97, Ruth Beitia has an advantage – without zero – over the Croatian Blanka Vlasic, the American Chauté Lowe and the Bulgarian Mirela Demireva. And since no one crosses two meters, the glory goes to the Cantabrian jumper, the first Olympic champion of Spanish athletics. Now, in the Tokyo event of 2021, Beitia will give up its scepter, it will have a successor, but that unforgettable moment of the Rio Games will remain forever.