America’s dominance in the Long Jump event is evident – Bob Beamon holds the 40-year-old Olympic record of 8.90 and Mike Powell holds the current world record of 8.95, set in 1991. In the history of the modern Olympics, Americans have taken the gold 22 times in the event. It was expected that at least one of the three admirable US jumpers, Trevell Quinley, Brian Johnson or Walter Davis, would be in the fight for a medal in Beijing. After Saturday’s Long Jump semifinal at the National Stadium, however, Americans have to put that dream to rest.
None of the three US representatives qualified to enter the finals, as they didn’t reach the Olympic standard of 8.15. Nor did they rank in the top 12 after all the jumps were counted.
Louis Tsatoumas of Greece, with a jump measuring 8.27, is at the top of the qualifiers list for the final. Tsatoumas made an 8.44 jump at the Grand Prix in Athens earlier this year. Ibrahim Camejo of Cuba came in second, jumping 8.23. He was followed by Greg Rutherford of Great Britain with 8.16.
Other athletes who will be moving on to the final are Khotso Mokoena (South Africa), Hussain Taher A Al Saba (Saudi Arabia), Luis Felipe Meliz (Spain), Gable Garenamotse (Botswana), Ngonidzashe Makushan (Zimbabwe), Wilfredo Martinez (Cuba), Ndiss Kaba Badji (Senegal), Irving Jahir Saladino Aranda (Panama), and Roman Novotny (Czech Republic).
The athletes will jump for gold on August 18 at 8:10 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8) in the National Stadium.
(Source: en.beijing2008.cn)
