Teddy Tamgho: ‘I still only have a few tools in my box‘ – European Athletics (EAA) – News

France's Teddy Tamgho provided the highlight of the IAAF World Indoor Championship last weekend when he bounded out to a Triple Jump world indoor record of 17.90m.

Still only 20, all eyes will now be on Tamgho to see what happens next at the big events for the next 12 months including the SPAR European Team Championships, the European Athletics Championships and also the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships, which will be held on his home soil in Paris.

He will also inevitably be the poster boy for the showpiece event of the summer in France, the Diamond League meeting in Paris on Friday 16 July.

European Athletics: Teddy, how does it feel to wake up in the skin of a world indoor champion and world indoor record holder?
Teddy Tamgho: I haven't fully taken it in yet. It's still fresh and so unexpected. I've just completed a very successful competition. I have a world title, something which no one can ever take away from me, something that is mine forever. When I won the world junior title in 2008, I was in the competition to win it. I was the favourite. Victory was mine. It was almost easy. Right now, amongst the seniors, the competition is a lot stiffer and considerably closer. I set off feeling less confident than in the World Juniors. At the finish though, I was rather proud to have beaten all the guys ranked in front of me.

Two days later, how do you rate the jump which gave you the world indoor record?
If I had done the jump in a meeting, I would have deemed it to be imperfect. From a technical point of view, it's not exempt from criticism. I was unbalanced on the last jump, my shoulders were too far forward. I had to compensate for that with a scissor jump to avoid landing in a squatting position in the sand. However, I'm certainly not going to complain about the jump. It gave me the title of world champion. The performance is the icing on the cake.

How do you explain pulling off this performance today, after a rather disappointing summer season in 2009?
I've said it before, I grew up last year. My season wasn't very good, but I learnt a lot. I knew how to take on board the advice from some of my adversaries, such as Jadel Gregorio and Phillips Idowu. They told me to calm down, to do things properly, with control, without seeking to win the competition before even competing in it. Several overseas coaches came to speak to me, to tell me that I was talented, but that I had to channel my energy on the jumping pit. I heeded them. And finally I've matured. Technically, I'm the same and I don't feel that I've made any progress, but I am more powerful, that's all. Today, I am capable of bringing all the elements together to do things properly.

What was your mindset for getting through the World Indoor Championships?
The competition was behind schedule and it was necessary to stay warmed up and concentrated. It was also the first time that I'd found myself amongst the top eight in a big senior final. After my first attempt at 17.41m, I managed to contain my delight; I didn't want to explode. I knew I'd do better. Added to that, I didn't want to show my rivals that I was happy. On the contrary, I decided to stay calm.  Afterwards, I was over the line on two jumps there were doubtless further than my world record, but I never l stopped being involved in the competition.

You landed just 10 centimetres away from the 18-metre line. What sort of barrier is this?
18 metres in the Triple Jump is another world. It's a closed circle which just two athletes have entered, English jumper Jonathan Edwards and the American Kenny Harrison. Some have come close; I'm part of those today. I've certainly foot-faulted on jumps of 18 metres or over, that's why I have to gradually demystify this barrier. I'm very close, but I have trouble speaking about it with an air of detachment. For me, it's still a myth, a jump of legend.

Since your victory in Doha, you're already being labelled as the new leader of French athletics. Are you ready to take on that role?
This sort of thing shouldn't be stated in these terms. A single jump, even accompanied by a world record, doesn't make me the leader of French athletics. I have no experience. I haven't yet brought a lot to my sport. In my eyes, Ladji Doucouré and Leslie Djhone remain the true leaders. They have experience, the track record, the attitude and the expertise. Personally, I still only have a few tools in my box.

What are your ambitions now?
To put in regular performances and to continue to work on controlling my jumping better. I mustn't fall back to 16 metres any more but should always land a jump of around 17 metres. It won't be easy but I must stretch myself towards this objective.

Thanks to Tamgho's sponsor ASICS for assisting with the interview.

 European Athletics (EAA) – News