Ilona Masson gains invaluable experience at her first World Championships
Ilona Masson has just completed her very first World Championships — and what an experience it was. Competing in Tokyo came earlier than originally planned in her career path, which made this entire championship a bonus milestone.
The 24-year-old triple jumper from Beyond the Board showed that she already belongs at world level. With a jump of 13.79m in the qualifiers, she placed 19th overall. On her second attempt she went clearly over 14 meters — a distance that would have put her in the final — but a tiny toe fault of just 0.01 cm meant the jump was ruled invalid.
Speaking to Sporza afterwards, Ilona reflected with pride and perspective:
“My technique let me down a little. On my second attempt I went over 14 meters, but unfortunately stepped a millimeter too far. Still, it was only my first championships, and in such a fantastic stadium.”
With her personal best of 14.06m, Ilona would have been well within the finalists. But for Tokyo, the real story was about gaining experience, testing herself against the world’s best, and proving that she can compete at this level.
✨ At Beyond the Board, we are proud of Ilona’s determination, progress, and resilience. From national titles to the global stage, her Tokyo debut shows that she is firmly on track for the next steps in her career. And this first taste of the world stage will only fuel her drive to go further.
