18-year-old Vashti Cunningham wins world indoor high jump gold medal

Vashti Cunnigham will turn professional before the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Vashti Cunningham won the gold medal in women's high jump at the IAAF World Indoor Track and Field Championships in Portland, Ore. on Sunday afternoon. She is the youngest athlete to win a title at any indoor event.

The 18 year old from Bishop Gorman High School cleared 1.96-meters on her first attempt to win gold over Ruth Beita of Spain and Kamila Licwinko of Poland.

Meet your high jump world indoor champion@vashtizzle_ clears 1.96 and secures gold. And she's only 18! pic.twitter.com/UOQvLL7TL4

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) March 20, 2016

Cunningham won the women's high jump at the U.S. indoor track and field championships last week by clearing 6 feet, 6¼ inches, which is the the best high jump by a woman in 2016, a junior world record and her own national high school record.

Watch Cunningham's world junior record set last week:

Cunningham is the daughter of former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham. Her gold medal was the 20th for the United States at the 2016 indoor championships, which set a national record.

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After her win at worlds, she told NBC that she expects to turn professional.

- Chris Chavez