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The IAAF wishes to extend its deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of the former Spanish long jumper Yago Lamela, who died at the age of 36 in his home town of Aviles in northern Spain on Thursday (8).
Lamela was a winner of medals at both the IAAF World Championships and IAAF World Indoor Championships.
He is, perhaps, best remembered by athletics fans as being part of an enthralling long jump contest at the 1999 World Indoor Championships when he flew out to 8.56m, a European indoor record for the next 10 years, but had to settle for the silver medal behind the great Cuban long jumper Ivan Pedroso.
He equalled that distance outdoors in Torino later that year and then took the silver medal in front of a home crowd at the 1999 World Championships in Seville.
His performances in 1999 are still Spanish records.
In 2003, he returned to his best form and took the silver medal at the 2003 World Indoor Championships and then a bronze at the 2003 World Championships.
IAAF
