Greece’s long jump champion Miltiadis “Miltos” Tentoglou achieved a distance of 8.60 meters in the long jump on Wednesday, the best jump in the world for 2021, at a track and field event in Athens.
The 23-year-old jumper achieved a length of 8.60 meters in his second attempt, improving his personal best, which was 8.38 meters, from March 2019.
The European Indoor Champion, who went through a long period of recovery from a knee injury, showed that he is in great form and that he is ready to compete with the top jumpers on the planet, at the Tokyo Olympics.
His jump on Wednesday was just six centimeters short of the Greek long jump record held by Louis Tsatoumas.
“I have not made many jumps so far this year, since my coach and I work mainly on speed, through which I have managed to improve my performance. I believe that a bigger jump, even breaking the national record, can come soon,” Tentoglou said.
“Today’s performance gives me extra motivation for the Olympics,” he added.
Greek sport pundits say that Tentoglou is one of the most promising long jumpers in the world and perhaps the only European capable of snatching a medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Thanks to his jump on Wednesday, he became the third European of all time behind Robert Emigian (8.86 m.), and Greek Louis Tsatuma (8.66 m.)
Tentoglou, born March 18, 1998, won the gold medal at the 2018 European Championships and his personal best till now was 8.32 meters (27 feet 3+1⁄2 in).
He competed at the 2015 World Youth Championships in Athletics and then won a silver medal at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships.
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