Gabriela Petrova soars to victory in thrilling triple jump final at Serbia Athletics Meeting

The Serbia Athletics Meeting, a Bronze-level stop on the prestigious World Athletics Continental Tour, delivered elite track and field action at the Athletics Stadium on September 2, 2026. Among the night’s most anticipated events, the women’s triple jump took center stage as a world-class field battled for supremacy down the runway.

Ultimately, it was Bulgaria’s seasoned veteran Gabriela Petrova who stole the show. She secured a spectacular victory, closely pursued by an aggressive, rising German contingent led by Ruth Hildebrand and Caroline Joyeux.

Gabriela Petrova recorded the winning result in her third attempt. The 34-year-old Bulgarian star began her series with a modest opening mark of 13.57 meters. Showing the tactical composure that has defined her international career, she adjusted her approach on the second round to push her distance out to 13.88 meters.

The decisive moment came in round three. Hitting the board with perfect rhythm, Petrova bounded down the pit to break the elusive 14-meter barrier, landing a winning mark of 14.10 meters (+0.7 m/s wind). As noted by sports media tracking the event on Instagram, In the fourth and fifth attempts Petrova made a foul, and in the last one she recorded 13.91 meters. Despite the later missteps, her third-round brilliance proved absolutely golden, securing her the top spot on the podium.

While Petrova walked away with the title, the German duo of Ruth Hildebrand and Caroline Joyeux ensured the veteran could not afford a single moment of complacency.

Nineteen-year-old sensation Ruth Hildebrand pushed Petrova to the absolute limit. Exhibiting tremendous raw power, Hildebrand flew down the runway to record a spectacular mark of 14.00 meters flat. Despite battling a sharp headwind of -1.5 m/s, Hildebrand’s high-flying performance secured her a well-deserved second-place finish.

Rounding out the podium in third place was her compatriot Caroline Joyeux. Joyeux, who has established herself as a formidable competitor on the European circuit, logged a strong leap of 13.79 meters under neutral wind conditions (0.0 m/s). Her consistent technical execution guaranteed that Germany would claim two of the three podium positions in a highly competitive field.

The depth of the field extended well past the podium. German athlete Kira Wittmann secured fourth place with a leap of 13.59 meters, while Japan’s Maoko Takashima finished fifth at 13.39 meters, underscoring the meeting’s diverse international appeal.

For Petrova, this triumphant performance in Serbia cements her status as a resilient force in the discipline. For the younger Hildebrand and Joyeux, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with an elite European medalist serves as a vital stepping stone toward their future global aspirations. The stellar showcase left the crowd thoroughly thrilled, proving once again why the triple jump remains one of the most captivating spectacles in athletics.