Tamgho : “This track is as fast as the one in Moscow”

But Tamgho starts by setting a realistic perspective. “Don’t expect me to jump 18m on every occasion from now on.”

“After the World Championships I didn’t do much more than some regular conditional work. But my 7.81m long jump in last weekend’s Décanation proves that my shape is still good. So I do have strong ambitions for next Friday, certainly after having trained on the track that proves to be as fast as the one in Moscow.”

“For me it is all about speed if I want to develop further in the next years. My hop and step phase are already very sound, but in the finishing jump I should be able to jump longer than 6.58m which has been measured in Moscow. To achieve that goal I must become faster on the runway.”

The World Record which is held by Jonathan Edwards with 18.29m definitely seems within reach for the French athlete. “If I want to become a legend in athletics than I must become the 2016 Olympic Champion and break the World Record one day. In my first attempt in Moscow I reached 17.65m in a no risk and totally relaxed effort, which means that there is lots of room for improvement.”