Miltos Tentoglou with an amazing jump of 8.41 meters vaulted to the top of the podium, giving Greece the first gold medal of the competition in the History of the Olympic Games.

Cliffhanger

The Greek athlete’s first jump was at 8.11 meters, but then made two invalid attempts that dropped him to fifth place. Miltos Tentoglou did not lose his composure and courage and pursued the distinction, which came with his last jump.

The first jump of the Greek athlete was at 8.11 meters, however he was passed by the Cuban Maso, who reached 8.21 meters. With two invalids then he was left third, as he was overtaken by the second Cuban Ecevaria, who also jumped to 8.41.

With 8.10 in the fourth and 8.15 in the fifth, Tentoglou was in fifth place, as he was overtaken by both the American Harrison and the Spaniard C Kaceres.

At the same time, the Swede Molder achieved a great performance in his sixth attempt, however he slightly touched board and was canceled.

The two Cubans were injured during their efforts, with the result that Maso made only two attempts and Ecevaria four (five with the last one not being completed).

Final try

Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Athletics – Men’s Long Jump – Final – Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan – August 2, 2021. Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece in action REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Although Ecevaria also jumped 8.41, according to the regulations, the Greek athlete won the gold medal and the Cuban the silver, as the second best performance was at 8.15 for Tentoglou and at 8.09 for Ecevaria.

The final ranking

1. Miltos Tentoglou (Greece) 8.41 – Gold medal

2. Juan Miguel Ecevaria (Cuba) 8.41 – Silver medal

3. Michael Masso (Cuba) 8.21 – Bronze medal

4. Eusebio Cσεceres (Spain) 8.18

5. Juven Harrison (USA) 8.15

6. Yuki Hashioka (Japan) 8.10

7. Tobias Modler (Sweden) 8.08

8. Filippo Radazzo (Italy) 7.99

 

“The kid is fantastic”

Clearly excited and still unable to believe in the triumph, Tentoglou’s coach, George Pomaski, speaking to MEGA channel, said:

“The kid is fantastic. Well done, I can not say anything else. I’ve been waiting for this medal for 13 years. I’m elsewhere, the child is fantastic.”