'Extraordinary scenes': Tragic finals drama creates unreal Olympics history
The men's long jump at the Tokyo Olympics ended in utterly extraordinary circumstances after a count-back decided the gold medal winner when contender Juan Miguel Echevarria pulled up injured.
Greece's Miltiadis Tentoglou won the men's long jump gold at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday after a dramatic final few moments, but Echevarria pulled up injured on his gold medal attempt.
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Echevarria took the lead with a 8.41m leap on his third attempt, but appeared injured after the jump.
But, in the final round, Tentoglou matched that distance.
Echevarria lined up to take his final jump, but pulled up injured and collapsed at the board.
The Greek took the gold medal on count-back with his next-best effort of 8.15m ahead of the Cuban's 8.09.
Compatriot Maykel Masso set the pace early in the contest with a first jump of 8.21m which proved enough for the bronze medal.
Olympics stunned after long jump drama
Fans were left stunned at the drama with Greek star Tentoglou winning the first-ever gold medal jump on a count-back.
Tentoglou was seen consoling Echevarria after the extraordinarily tight final.
More #Athletics extraordinary scenes - Greece's Miltiádis Tentóglou winning long jump from Cuba's Juan Miguel Echevarría. Both jumped 8.41m
Unlike last night's high jump they could be split on a countback. Echevarría needed 8.15 on his last jump but pulled up injured. #Tokyo2020— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) August 2, 2021
What drama in the long jump... Tentoglou wins the gold with his final jump. He tied the leading jump (Cuba's Echevarria) of 8.41m, then the Cuban pulled up injured before his final jump and the Greek won on countback. For the longest time, Tentoglou couldn't quite believe it. pic.twitter.com/brxLle2kn1
— Ashish Magotra (@clutchplay) August 2, 2021
The long jump!! 🤯🤯🤯 #Tokyo2020
— Jade Lally (@JadeLallyT69) August 2, 2021
What a final round in this mens long jump final. 2 injured Cubans in the gold and silver positions, overtaken by the Greek long jumper in the last jump of the games. Phenomenal
— Harry Levy® (@HazzyLevy) August 2, 2021
Count-back
We have heard that term multiple times now since yesterday
Today too-Miltiadis Tentoglou & Juan Echevarria both leaped the same distance in the long jump final, but the Greek won🥇on countback
His 4 legal jumps were all 8.1m or better; Echevarria's 2nd best was 8.09 pic.twitter.com/uXwS8EbJAS— Aniket Mishra (@aniketmishra299) August 2, 2021
What a dramatic long jump competition. Too dramatic, I couldn't enjoy. Too many injuries (I guess the weather conditions had something to do with that), too many sad faces, even the winner looked - not sad, but not the happiest Olympic gold medal winner either. https://t.co/lRb4XGfysY
— Tales From The Brazier's Grotto - Katriina Etholén (@FromBrazier) August 2, 2021
This long jump final has no business being this dramatic! #nailbitingstuff
— Akil King (@kingakil14) August 2, 2021
that long jump was crazy omg
— hana 🕰 (@hah__nuh) August 2, 2021
What a finish to the Men's Long Jump. Tentoglou wins the Gold on count back after an 8.41 on the final jump. Echevarria also ends with 8.41 but can't do another jump as he's injured
— Mihir (@mihir_h) August 2, 2021
How’s that long jump finish aye? #Wowee Just like last night! Count back gives #Gold to Greece this time #Tokyo2020
— Zane Bojack (@zanofc) August 2, 2021
#Athletics in Tokyo just keeps on surprising. A first ever long jump win on a count back!! Wow.
— Louise Fernance 🇦🇺🏴 (@weezie8219) August 2, 2021
Absolute scenes at the long jump
— Steel Sheep (@Travinport) August 2, 2021
Watching Men’s long jump and barring maybe the injured reigning world champ (Gayle) only 1 other jumper (Echevarria) has the earth shaking explosiveness of Luvo Manyonga. It is just tragic 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽#Olympics
— Udo Carelse (@udocarelsesa) August 2, 2021
The gold medal winner was thrilled to become the first man ever to win long jump gold for his country.
"What an incredible competition. What an incredible jump, the last jump," the Greek said after winning his country's first ever long jump gold.
"I wasn't able to get it right at the start. But in the end I managed to pull something out to get the medal. I always have something left, something in reserve."
Thirty years ago the greatest-ever long jump competition took place at the Tokyo National Stadium, the same site on which the Olympic Stadium now stands, when Mike Powell set the still-standing world record of 8.95m after an epic world championship duel with American Carl Lewis.
with Reuters
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