France\’s Tamgho breaks Triple Jump indoor world record with 17.90m – European Athletics (EAA) – News

French sensation Teddy Tamgho set a new world indoor record on his final attempt to take the Triple Jump gold at the World Indoor Championships in Doha on Sunday.

The 20-year-old, who had been lying in second place before his final jump, leapt to 17.90m to go past the long-standing previous mark of 17.83m shared by Aliecer Urrutia of Cuba and Swedish star Christian Olsson.

Urrutia set the mark in 1997 and Olsson equalled it at the 2004 World Indoor Championships in Budapest.

With the competition drawing to a close, the world junior champion was lying second behind Cuba's Yoandri Betanzos with just one jump remaining.

But the French prodigy had saved his best for last and soared through to record a remarkable jump.

"I didn't think I'd be able to achieve such a performance," said Tamgho, who won US$ 40,000 for the victory and a further bonus of US$50,000.

"I knew I had it in me because last year I had a foul close to 18m.

"I thought if I won it would be around 17.60m. But after the Cuban jumped 17.69m, I had to give it all. I can't tell my emotions."

Bezantos had only recorded two distances in the first five jumps, with his first effort of 17.69m a personal best and seemingly good enough for the title.

But the Frenchman's remarkable finish meant the Cuban needed one last effort and, nursing an injury, he looked far from confident standing on the runway for his final jump.

Sure enough, the 28-year old couldn't improve on his first effort and settled for silver while another Cuban, defending silver medallist Arnie Girat, jumped 17.36m for bronze.

Olsson, in his first global competition since coming back from an injury late in 2009, began well in the first round reaching 17.23m. The former world indoor record co-holder, however, was unable to carry on and gave up after two jumps. He nevertheless finished fourth.

European indoor champion Fabrizio Donato, who had come to Doha as the No. 1 jumper in the world, could only muster 16.88m to finish fifth.

Apart from producing the brightest moment of the three-day championships, Tamgho sets himself up for a breakthrough outdoor season that will reach its climax at the European Athletics Championships to be held in Barcelona through 27 July to 1 August.

 European Athletics (EAA) – News