 Dwight Phillips of the United States competes in the men’s long jump during the Prefontaine Classic track and field meet, June 7, 2009, in Eugene, Ore. Phillips jumped 8.74 meters for win. / Korea Times file |
By Yoon ChulThe long jump is one of the most attractive events in the athletics. But since Mike Powell set a world record of 8.95 meters in the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Tokyo in 1991, no one has come close to that mark.
But for the upcoming championships, veteran jumper Dwight Phillips of the United States and Irving Saladino of Panama aim for a very close race for the gold medal.
Phillips is the currently the best long jumper, with a personal best of 8.74 meters. The 33-year-old’s goal will be winning his fourth world championships title in Daegu. If the American succeeds, he will be the second long jumper to do so, following Ivan Pedroso of Cuba.
Phillips made his debut on the world stage in 2000 at the Sydney Summer Games, finishing eighth. But he hit his stride in 2003, becoming the world champion in Paris that year.
In the Summer Games in 2004, Phillips jumped 8.59 meters — the fourth best Olympic record — for gold, and snatched his second world championship title the next year.
Since then the American hasn’t matched his peak performances.
He took home only bronze to the United States from the world championships in 2007 and failed to appear at the Beijing Olympics. He finished fourth in the U.S. Olympic trials, losing the chance to defend his Olympic title.
At that time he also suffered injuries to his thigh and abdomen.
On June 7, 2009, Phillips made his comeback at the Prefontaine Classic with a personal-best third jump of 8.74 meters over 2008 Olympic gold medalist Irving Saladino.
That year in Berlin Phillips reclaimed the world championship title with 8.54. The current defending champion has marked only 8.04 for this season.
But Saladino is the strongest contender to shatter the American’s dream.
The Beijing Olympics champion recorded 8.40 for this season and has a personal best of 8.73.
While Phillips stumbled, Saladino overwhelmed his competitor in Osaka, Japan, at the worlds leaping 8.57 meters, and the 28-year-old set his personal best at FBK-Games in Hengelo on May 24, 2008.
Saladino is his nation’s sporting hero.
His gold medal at the Beijing Summer Games is his country’s first medal since the 1948 Summer Olympics, and Panama’s one and only gold.
In order to set better records in the long jump, athletes must properly shift impelling power into potential energy. The athletes mostly fly about 0.8 seconds. In that moment, the leaper must maintain balance as well as execute a very specific technique to jump further.
yc@koreatimes.co.kr
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