Athletics-Italy’s Furlani, 20, leaps to world long jump gold

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By Mitch Phillips

TOKYO (Reuters) – Italy’s Mattia Furlani underlined his status as the coming man in long jump when he won the world title with a personal best leap of 8.39 metres on Wednesday, as big favourite Miltiadis Tentoglou failed to make it to the second round of jumps.

The 20-year-old Furlani, the world indoor champion, became the youngest and first Italian winner of the title after speeding down the runway and soaring into the humid Tokyo night on his fifth attempt.

Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle, world champion six years ago and bronze medallist in 2023, took silver with 8.34, ahead of China’s Shi Yuhao (8.33).

Gayle, who has had a torrid time with injury, opened up with an impressive 8.33, which was matched by Shi. The Jamaican then edged one cm clear with an 8.34 in the fourth round.

Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer was sitting in third with 8.30 with Furlani, who had two no-jumps in his first three efforts, fourth on a best of 8.22.

However, he seemed to find some extra speed for his fifth attempt and nobody could challenge it in the final round.

“This is a most special evening. I worked so hard and put so much determination into getting a medal,” Furlani said.

“At the beginning I had a small problem with my run-up, but as usual I tried to stay calm and save the best for last. Now I am here with this gold medal. This is a perfect year for me.”

GAYLE HAILS ‘WONDERFUL’ SILVER

Gayle was delighted with his “wonderful” silver. “I came to jump 8.40m but my hamstrings were pretty sore from the qualification.

“I was a bit nervous because of that, not about the competition but in case of injury. I tried to bet it all on my first jump and I was really grateful for that 8.33m.

“All in all it was a great competition and Mattia was jumping really well tonight.”

Shi said he was close to leaving the sport after getting a serious injury in 2018 but worked his way back after surgery.

“One of the secrets of my success is having two coaches. My Chinese coach is like a father to me and he was with me all the time when I fought with the injuries.

“But I am lucky to be a part of Randy Huntington’s group too. He gave me the modern technique and a modern view of long jump and showed me a new way of training.”

Greece’s double Olympic and defending world champion Tentoglou, the world leader this year with 8.46, never looked himself after getting cramp.

His 7.83 in the first round was 11th-best of the first three rounds with only the top 10 advancing for extra jumps.

A frustrated Tentoglou called it his worst-ever competition.

“I was feeling great and strong during warm-up. I’m in the shape of my life, then I got cramps in my calf in both legs at the same time on my first attempt and then I couldn’t do anything.”

(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Ed Osmond and Ken Ferris)