Spanish newspaper Marca reported this week that Díaz had arrived in Kansas. The Havana-born jumper, who represents Spain, left his previous base in Guadalajara, where he had worked with Iván Pedroso.
Díaz won Olympic gold in Paris in 2024 with 17.86 metres. Weeks earlier he took European gold in Rome with a Spanish record of 18.18m, the third-best mark in history. He defected from Cuba in 2021 while on a training trip in Spain and became eligible for Spain in June 2024.
The past two seasons have been disrupted by injury. He barely competed in 2025 and withdrew from qualifying at the World Championships after failing to record a valid jump. The switch to Geopfert’s group is intended as a reset.
Geopfert is director of track and field and cross country at Kansas State. He recently signed a contract extension through 2031-32. His coaching résumé includes Olympic long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall and Jamaican jumpers Wayne Pinnock and Jaydon Hibbert. K-State’s programme has risen under him, with NCAA individual titles in the long and triple jump last outdoor season.
Díaz, 25, is joining an elite training environment rather than entering NCAA competition. Adaptation will include language and Geopfert’s methods after an inconsistent period in Spain.
The Spanish federation has previously said athletes are free to train abroad. Whether the Kansas move restores the form that produced 18.18m will be judged when he next competes. For now, the Olympic champion is on the ground in Manhattan after months of waiting on a visa.