The review of European performances at the world championships in Moscow comes to an end with the last day of competition, but what a day it was.
Day Nine, Sunday August 18, What a way to end.
It had been 18 years since Great Britain’s Jonathan Edwards had set the triple jump world record with his amazing 18.29m at the World Championships in Gothenburg, but now the new kid of the block has that mark in his sights after a sensational afternoon.
Teddy Tamgho, of France, back from injury, delivered a stunning performance to take gold from his final round jump of 18.04m. He moved to third on the all-time rankings and was the first man since Edwards in 1998 to actually break 18 metres.
It is no surprise, because Tamgho is the world indoor record-holder, but Edwards’ mark has been around for such a long time and with longevity comes the additional pressure of knowing that it might be there forever.
Tamgho is not quite there yet, but having smashed the psychological barrier of 18m, he will now aim for greater distances after this win which saw Edwards, now a BBC commentator, greet him by the side of the track to be one of the first to congratulate him.
His leap gave him victory over Cuba’s Pedro Pablo Pichardo, who was second with 17.68m, the same distance Tamgho had before the final round, with Will Claye, of the USA, third with 17.52m.
It was some day, too, for Germany’s Christina Obergföll who finally won a major title. The javelin star had five silvers and a bronze and now she has gold to with it.
It was a glorious moment for her as she won with her second round throw of 69.05m and it was a clear victory over the rest of the field. Australian Kimberley Mickle’s 66.60m was not enough in a competition where Russia’s defending champion Mariya Abakumova was third with 65.09m.
The track brought Europe two more medals, but not the gold that Russia’s Mariya Savinova was chasing in the 800m where she was the defending champion and Olympic champion. She was bested by Kenya’s Eunice Jepkoech Sum in 1:57.38 from Savinova in 1:57.80 with America’s Brenda Martinez third in 1:57.91.
Europe’s final medal came with drama in the women’s 4 x 100m relay. Jamaica won in a Championship record of 41.29, France were initially second from the USA in 42.75. But the French were then disqualified for a baton change out of the zone which meant Great Britain moved on to the podium as Dina Asher-Smith, Ashleigh Nelson, Annabelle Lewis and Hayley Jones took bronze in 42.87.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
I want to enjoy this moment and celebrate this win. It will sink in that I am the World champion when I am back to France. I sang ‘la Marseillaise’ with a lot of joy. It’s the best day of my career.
Teddy Tamgho