Ghana’s high jump hope: Can Rose Yeboah soar in Paris?
Yeboah's upward trajectory is undeniable. She has steadily improved her jump height year-on-year, from 1.65m in 2018 to her current PB
With the 2024 Paris Olympic Games just weeks away, we assess Ghana’s high jump star Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah’s chances against a backdrop of impressive form and increasing world-class competition.
A Year of dominance
Yeboah’s dominance began at the 13th African Games (1.90m) and African Athletics Championships (1.87m), showcasing her regional prowess.
Throughout the year, she secured victories at the Illini Open (1.85m), Illini Challenge (1.88m), Mt. SAC Relays (1.87m), Fighting Illini Tune-Up (1.91m), and the Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships (1.82m).
Second-place finishes at the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational (1.88m) and Pepsi Florida Relays (1.83m) and a third-place finish at the Big Ten Indoor Championships (1.86m) solidify her consistency.
However, her crowning achievement came at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships.
Yeboah not only secured the gold medal but also achieved a season-best (SB) and personal best (PB) jump of 1.97m.
This phenomenal performance not only booked her ticket to Paris but also shattered the Ghanaian national women’s high jump record.
This upward trajectory is undeniable. Yeboah has steadily improved her jump height year-on-year, from 1.65m in 2018 to her current PB.
But how will she fare against the world’s elite?
A mountain to climb
The current World Athletics rankings paint a competitive picture. Yeboah sits at 13th, just behind Finland’s Ella Junnila (1.97m).
However, the clear favourite is Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who recently broke the 37-year-old world record with a staggering 2.10m jump at the 2024 Diamond League in Paris.
Her consistent jumps over 2.00m in every 2024 competition make gold a near certainty.
Looking back at previous Olympics, the average winning jump height for the past five Games is 2.02m (gold), 2.03m (silver), and 2.00m (bronze).
Based on her PB, Yeboah would have historically placed fourth in 2008 (Beijing) and 2012 (London), and fifth in 2004 (Athens) and 2020 (Tokyo).
Notably, at the 2016 Rio Olympics, with the winner of the gold, silver, and bronze medals all jumping 1.97m, Yeboah could have secured a podium finish.
However, her average jump for 2024 (1.87m) wouldn’t have secured a top-five finish in any of the past five Olympics.
For a podium shot in Paris, Yeboah would need to improve her PB by at least 0.03m.
This is a significant challenge, but not out of the realm of possibility considering her average annual improvement of 0.06m.
Looking Forward: A bright future awaits
Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah is a young talent with immense potential. While the Paris Olympics might be a tall order for a podium finish, it’s a valuable learning experience.
Continued progress and maintaining her upward trajectory could see her challenging for medals in future Games.
We can expect her to push her limits and improve her record in Paris, even if it doesn’t translate to a podium finish in this exceptionally competitive field.
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