Yulimar Rojas Celebrates World Championships Gold Medal with Kids in Venezuela

Yulimar Rojas, the 22-year-old Venezuelan track and field athlete who won gold in the Women's Triple Jump at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, England last week, has returned home to boisterous celebrations in Caracas, Venezuela. The reigning indoor and outdoor world champion danced with children at an event and news conference welcoming her home.

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“I'm going to continue working. I'm going to continue fighting for my name to continue to be inscribed as one of the best athletes in the world and that Yulimar Rojas puts Venezuela, as I've always said, at the highest levels in the world of sports,” said the reigning world indoor and outdoor champion.

Speaking to the children, Rojas said "It's an honor to present you with this beautiful medal that was won with much sweat, with plenty of hard work, with much effort and here we are. I'm happy, proud and I truly hope you feel this with plenty of love, just as I felt when I won it, and now I carry it in my heart."

Yulexis Rodriguez and Pedro Zapata, Rojas mother, and father, as well as Venezuelan Sports Minister Pedro Infante and other members of the Olympic Committee, were present during the event.

Shortly after winning gold, Rojas recalled the memory of former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who passed away on March 5, 2013, She said he was a ”fundamental pillar for sports” in Venezuela, and recognized his achievements in taking sports to the lower classes” and getting children to understand that sports are very important for health and human values,” saying he “always had love for sports in Venezuela.”

The 17th IAAF World Indoor Championships took place in Birmingham, United Kingdom, from March 1 to 4.