Cuba's Yargelis Savigne celebrates with her country's flag after winning the gold medal in the women's triple jump. - AP

OSAKA, Japan (AP):

YARGELIS SAVIGNE of Cuba wasted no time.

Her first jump of 15.28 metres was good enough for gold yesterday in the triple jump at the World Championships, depriving Tatyana Lebedeva of Russia of a double in both horizontal jumps. The two-time champion in the event, Lebedeva leaped 15.07. Bronze went to Hrysopiyi Devetzi of Greece in 15.04.

"I knew I would have to jump more than 15 metres to win a medal," said Savigne, whose jump was the best of the season. "Of course, I didn't know if I'd win a medal."

"I feel really good and I hope Cubans are also feeling good about it," she added. "Maybe they weren't expecting it."

She was being modest.

Savigne was second two years ago in Helsinki and had the second best jump this season behind Lebedeva going into the finals.

Favourite for olympics

The victory makes Savigne a favourite for next year's Olympics in Beijing.

"I hope I'll jump even better next year in the Olympics, but we'll have to wait and see," she said.

Despite the loss, Lebedeva still has a wide assortment of medals.

The triple jump has been her strongest event. She has been the world champion twice and now adds silver. She also has silver and bronze medals in the Olympics in the event. Her only Olympic gold medal came in the long jump at Athens three years ago.

Lebedeva missed the World Championships two years ago with an injury. The winner in 2005 was Jamaican Trecia Smith, who was injured this season.

After Lebedeva failed to take the lead on her final jump, Savigne skipped her final attempt and raced to grab a Cuban flag for a victory lap.

"If I had taken the last jump, I might have gone over 15 metres again but it wouldn't have been better than my winning jump. I felt that for sure."