Normally I write a report on the Games only once they are over and I have digested everything that happened. However in this case I will make an exception and give in to the enthusiasm of the moment.
The long jump olympic final was held, for us Europeans, in the middle of the night. It was one of the most nerve-wracking events. Miltos Tentoglou was qualified with 8.22 m, second behind the world indoor champion J.M. Echevarría who jumped 8.50 in the qualifiers.
Tentoglou is the reigning European champion (indoors and outdoors) and he had jumped 8.60 m this year. Naturally he was one of the favourites for a medal. However the competition was going to be fierce. J.M. Echevarría has a 8.68 m record (and a wind-assisted 8.92 m). T. Gayle, the 2019 World champion, has a 8.69 m record (but he had sustained a knee injury during the qualification). And then there were the two 22 year old jumpers (one year younger than Tentoglou) Harrison with a 8.47 m personal best and M. Massó with 8.37 m.
The first jump was so-so both for Tentoglou and Echevarría, 8.11 and 8.09 m, and it was the other cuban, Massó who took the lead with 8.21 m. However he was injured in his second jump and did not jump any more. In the third jump Echevarría managed an excellent 8.41 m and moved to the first place. The two Cubans were going to lead all the way till the last jump.
On the fifth jump Harrison jumped to 8.15 m, becoming temporarily third, and Cáceres jumped a season best 8.12 m pushing Tentoglou to fifth place. Miltos immediately responded also with 8.15 m moving back to third (due to a better second jump).
And so we arrive at the fateful last jump. Cáceres jumping at fifth position obtained 8.18 m, pushing Tentoglou out of the medals. Harrison jumped next but could not improve and was definitely fifth. (Not so bad after all for his first Olympics, where he doubled high and long jump finishing 7th and 5th respectively). For Tentoglou that was the crucial moment.
As he said later: "Up to that point I was stressed and could not make a decent jump. My five first attempts were awful. But for my last jump I ran relaxed and managed to do one of those jumps I am accustomed to". The verdict was 8.41 m and first place thanks to a better second jump. Massó was out but Echevarría had one jump left. That ended in tears since he finished his run-up limping, unable to jump due to a hamstring injury. Tentoglou was Olympic champion.
Later Echevarría said to the press: "The silver is not what I expected but still, it’s a very welcome prize". Massó was happier: "It was incredible. It was totally a surprise. I was surprised because I was expecting my mark to be surpassed and it didn't, so I was very happy".
As for Tentoglou, who is always very modest in his attitude, speaking to the greek television, declared: "I did not expect this, and in particular to win in this way. I was lucky". And he went on asking the greek journalist if he knew when would the medal award ceremony be held.
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