A level 300 student of University of Cape Coast (UCC), Rose Amoaniwaa Yeboah, has confirmed her place among the pantheon of world female high jumpers as she set a new national record by producing a leap of 1.94 meters to grab Ghana’s first gold medal at the FISU World University Games 2023 in Chengdu, China.
By this feat, Rose Yeboah breaks the previous national record of 1.92m set by Abigail Kwarteng at the War Eagle Invitational in Auburn, Alabama, in 2022.
Since the beginning of the biennial World University Games, formerly known as the Universiade, in 1959, Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah is the only Ghanaian athlete to win gold for Ghana, the first time in history.
Ghana's accomplished high jumper outperformed Cyprus' Elena Kulichenko who secured the silver medal with a height of 1.91 meters, while Finland's Venla Pulkkanen secured the bronze medal, reaching a personal best of 1.89 meters.
Host China topped the FISU World University Games medals tally with 178 medals, including 103 gold. Japan came second with 21 gold medals from a tally of 93. The Republic of Korea finished third with 17 gold medals from a total of 58.
Rose Amoaniwaa Yeboah displaying her gold medal
The next edition of the World University Games is slated to take place in 2025 in Germany.
The FISU Games, an esteemed international multi-sport event catering to student-athletes across the globe, with more than 2,500 participants from over 50 nations, participating in the 11-day event.
Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah @ a glance:
•Born on December 23, 2001
• Ranked number one in Africa in the High Jump event
•First gained international exposure in 2019 at the XIV African Under-20 Championships in Abidjan, where she won the gold medal in high jump with a height of 1.83 m.
•Followed it up with another gold-winning performance in Rabat at the African Games.
• As a junior athlete, Rose Yeboah also represented Ghana and won gold medals at both ECOWAS U-20 Championships in Abidjan and the All-Africa University Games in Egypt.
•A former student of Kumasi Girls' High School
•Currently in Level 300 pursuing Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) at UCC.
•An affiliate of the Kwame Nkrumah Hall
•Qualified to participate in the 2023 World Championship in Budapest, Hungary, which will come off on August 19- 27.
• Won Ghana's only medal at the FISU World University Games 2023.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC