Cathal Dennehy
The world’s greatest lengthy jumpers have spoken, and it’s protected to say they’re not massive followers of the proposals by World Athletics to shake up the occasion.
by Cathal Dennehy
On the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow this morning, a number of of them walked off the observe. It quickly vented its frustration when requested in regards to the proposal, lately outlined by World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon, to trial a take-off zone somewhat than aboard – the objective being to remove fouls and make the occasion extra participating for followers.
“It’s canine shit,” stated Miltiadis Tentoglou, the reigning European, World and Olympic champion, who added his second world indoor title on Saturday, leaping 8.22m to edge Italy’s Mattia Furlani on countback.
“It’s humorous,” he added. “It’s so unhealthy, it’s humorous. I can not say anything.” Tentoglou, although, went on to say far more.
“Every thing these guys at World Athletics have modified; they’re so unhealthy. Come on, they don’t even attempt. What is that this?”
On the press convention on Friday, World Athletics president Seb Coe stated athletes had been consulted in regards to the proposal by way of its Athletes Fee.
“The athletes are our key stakeholders,” stated Coe. “A giant chunk of our council assembly was dedicated to these sorts of discussions, and Valerie Adams and Matthew Hughes led them. They’ve acquired outreach programmes and we converse to the athletes on a regular basis and naturally, we will be guided by what they’re considering.”
Nevertheless, Tentoglou stated World Athletics “by no means” requested the lengthy jumpers themselves. “They modify stuff on a regular basis, and no one is aware of something,” he stated. “We aren’t listened to. I’m the Olympic and world champions, and my opinion doesn’t matter. They don’t actually care.”
Would Tentoglou take part within the discussions if he’s invited? “Sure,” he stated. “However I shall be very brutal to them.”
The opinion amongst his friends in regards to the new proposal was comparable, even when their criticisms weren’t fairly so blunt. Furlani, who at 19 appears very very similar to the way forward for the occasion, is in opposition to the proposal however conceded it has some advantage.
“I feel it’s not a good suggestion, however on the identical time, it’s a good suggestion,” he stated. “The choice is best for the accidents, velocity athletes, and spectators as a result of each soar is lengthy and good. However on the identical time, you revolutionise the self-discipline since you go away the foul (out), and the foul is (a part of) the sport. You additionally go away the historical past of the lengthy soar. From Mike Powell, Carl Lewis, you modify the evolution. I don’t need this resolution as a result of it’s (spoiling) the historical past of the lengthy soar.”
Sweden’s Tobias Montler, who completed eighth in Saturday’s last and who received silver on the final World Indoors in 2022, stated the proposal is “a joke”.
“They need to make the game extra thrilling however for me it’s a step within the improper path. There’s no level in having the markers within the pit anymore since you don’t know the place the athletes are leaping from.”
Montler believes that if World Athletics desires to make a change, they need to revert to the board that had been utilized in earlier years. “It’s a very good one,” he stated. “And take again the road for the foul soar just a little greater, 1cm up, so that you don’t slip on the board. Simply hold that one and will probably be wonderful and do another issues to make the game extra fascinating.”
Jamaica’s Carey McLeod, who received bronze on Saturday with a leap of 8.21m, was additionally staunchly in opposition to the proposal. “It’s loopy,” he stated. “In the event that they do change it, then it received’t change into a technical occasion as a result of the lengthy soar is a technical occasion with the board – to point out how correct you will be.”
What would McLeod change if he had the ability?
“I feel the principles are good; I don’t assume nothing must be modified,” he stated. “Right this moment was lit. Everybody got here out right here and put their greatest foot ahead.”
That was actually true, with Saturday’s last exhibiting the occasion at its aggressive, fascinating greatest, with only one centimetre separating the highest three.
Germany’s Simon Batz, who completed fourth with an 8.06m soar, was additionally in opposition to the change. “There are various steps we have to prepare, and all that may collapse (below the brand new proposal) since you don’t want the rhythm to the board (anymore) – it’s not comparable,” he stated. “It will be exhausting for individuals to (perceive). If the zone is 70cm, they might soar at first, soar 9 metres, and it (appears like) 8.30m. Folks will assume it’s not such a very good soar.”
Will Williams, the US jumper who completed seventh in Saturday’s last, believes the change would remove the talent component of the occasion.
“At this stage, we take delight in our talent,” he stated. “All of the greats – Carl Lewis, Mike Powell, my coach and mentor Dwight Phillips – had that talent. If it takes away that, it doesn’t profit (the occasion). In the event that they need to do one thing to assist the lengthy soar, they might present the (foul) marks individuals may have probably jumped.”
His US teammate Jarrion Lawson, the world silver medallist in 2017, agreed that no change is required. “Depart it like it’s,” he stated. “Doing the zone will take the problem out of the lengthy soar. A part of lengthy leaping is getting an strategy ironed out, getting your foot on the board, and should you scratch, properly, it’s important to go once more.”
Lawson first competed on the worldwide stage on the Rio Olympics in 2016, the place he completed fourth, and he sees little motive to tamper with issues. “For the years I’ve been on the world stage, it was wonderful. Followers have been actually engaged, paying consideration, and the environment was simply wonderful. I don’t assume they should change something.”
Tentoglou stated that his solely friends who’d be in favour of the thought are those that “do lots of fouls,” and he agreed with the others that the proposal would “take away all of the talent” from the occasion. He’s had simply sufficient of the tinkering throughout his years on the prime.
“They modified sufficient already,” he stated. “They made some actually unhealthy guidelines these years, which is unfair for us. I can not compete anymore with all of the (former) champions. They’d completely different guidelines, extra free guidelines. They need to test my spikes, the size of the spikes, the shoe. They put this laser on the board. I can not compete in opposition to the previous masters.”
What would he say to these in energy at World Athletics?
“If I’ve to go and clarify it, it’s apparent,” he stated. “What’s there to clarify? They don’t respect us. We wish some extra respect. How many individuals acquired injured from these new boards? Many individuals. Who cares about them? Nobody.
“If these guidelines apply, I’ll cease doing the lengthy soar.”
