Cathal Dennehy
The world’s greatest lengthy jumpers have spoken, and it’s secure 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, not too long ago outlined by World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon, to trial a take-off zone quite than aboard – the purpose being to get rid of 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 dangerous, it’s humorous. I can not say the rest.” Tentoglou, although, went on to say way more.
“All the things these guys at World Athletics have modified; they’re so dangerous. 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 bought outreach programmes and we communicate to the athletes on a regular basis and naturally, we will be guided by what they’re pondering.”
Nonetheless, Tentoglou stated World Athletics “by no means” requested the lengthy jumpers themselves. “They alter 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 might be very brutal to them.”
The opinion amongst his friends in regards to the new proposal was related, even when their criticisms weren’t fairly so blunt. Furlani, who at 19 seems very very like the way forward for the occasion, is in opposition to the proposal however conceded it has some benefit.
“I believe it’s not a good suggestion, however on the similar time, it’s a good suggestion,” he stated. “The choice is best for the accidents, velocity athletes, and spectators as a result of each bounce is lengthy and good. However on the similar 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 bounce. From Mike Powell, Carl Lewis, you modify the evolution. I don’t need this determination as a result of it’s (spoiling) the historical past of the lengthy bounce.”
Sweden’s Tobias Montler, who completed eighth in Saturday’s ultimate 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 course. 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 superb one,” he stated. “And take again the road for the foul bounce just a little increased, 1cm up, so that you don’t slip on the board. Simply maintain that one and will probably be high quality 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 grow to be a technical occasion as a result of the lengthy bounce is a technical occasion with the board – to indicate how correct you will be.”
What would McLeod change if he had the facility?
“I believe the principles are excellent; I don’t suppose nothing must be modified,” he stated. “At present was lit. Everybody got here out right here and put their greatest foot ahead.”
That was actually true, with Saturday’s ultimate 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 bounce, was additionally in opposition to the change. “There are lots of steps we have to practice, and all that may disintegrate (below the brand new proposal) since you don’t want the rhythm to the board (anymore) – it’s not comparable,” he stated. “It could be laborious for folks to (perceive). If the zone is 70cm, they may bounce to start with, bounce 9 metres, and it (seems like) 8.30m. Individuals will suppose it’s not such a superb bounce.”
Will Williams, the US jumper who completed seventh in Saturday’s ultimate, believes the change would get rid of the talent component of the occasion.
“At this stage, we take pleasure 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 bounce, they may present the (foul) marks folks may have presumably 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 issue out of the lengthy bounce. A part of lengthy leaping is getting an strategy ironed out, getting your foot on the board, and when you scratch, effectively, 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 cause to tamper with issues. “For the years I’ve been on the world stage, it was high quality. Followers had been actually engaged, paying consideration, and the ambiance was simply high quality. I don’t suppose 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 dangerous 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 should examine my spikes, the size of the spikes, the shoe. They put this laser on the board. I can not compete in opposition to the outdated 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 elucidate? They don’t respect us. We want some extra respect. How many individuals bought injured from these new boards? Many individuals. Who cares about them? Nobody.
“If these guidelines apply, I’ll cease doing the lengthy bounce.”
