Tamgho: To go further than Edwards … is obviously stuck in my head!

Teddy Tamgho became just the third triple jumper to soar over 18 metres when he unleashed his last round winning effort of 18.04m at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow last month.

It was a remarkable comeback for the man who missed the 2011 World Championships and also the London 2012 Olympic Games due to injury, and he spent more than 20 months out of the sport after fracturing his ankle while warming up for the 2011 European Athletics U23 Championships.

The 24-year-old Frenchman decided to miss the entire indoor season this year and he only returned to the fray at the end of March this year.

However, his feats in Moscow have propelled him into contention as one of the nominees for the 2013 European Athlete of the Year and a lot of talk is now of him challenging the long-standing world record of 18.29m, set by Great Britain’s Jonathan Edwards at the 1995 World Championships.

Only Edwards and the USA’s Kenny Harrison, who won the 1996 Olympic title with 18.09m, have jumped further now than Tamgho.

'When you say that only two people before you have jumped further than 18 metres and that you are third, it's impressive and gives you some ideas because to be ambitious in sports your goal is not to be third but first!' said Tamgho at a press conference ahead of the IAAF Diamond League in Brussels on Thursday.

'But I know that I'll have to improve a lot of things to go hunting for Edwards' record.

'Specifically, I have to work on my run up and final jump. During my last jump in Moscow, I didn't run at 100 percent. I need to give my all in the first two jumps and still be performing to a level to manage an as-long-as-possible third jump.'

Tamgho, who holds the world indoor record with 17.92m, added: 'The key to a good jump is speed. It's that component that I didn't use to 100 percent in Moscow. To go very, very far, you have to hit the board at top speed.

'Medals are important, but to finish your career with top marks, you need a world record.

'Globally, I'd like to become one of the important figures of the triple jump like Edwards. To go further than Edwards, the man who personifies the triple jump, is obviously stuck in my head.'

Tamgho, coached by legendary Cuban long jumper Ivan Pedroso, admitted that getting the gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016 remained his goal, having not been to an Olympics before.

'I have to continue working towards 2016. It's the highest of priorities, to work for the long term.

'Each competition will now serve as part of my preparation for Rio 2016. It's the sole title I don't have. Indoors, I've won everything. Only the Olympic crown is missing from my accolades, with the world record, of course,” commented Tamgho.