All Rio’s medalists are not on the plane to Tokyo meaning a new cohort will be crowned in a wide open long jump competition. Two young sensations hoping to battle it out for Olympic glory, here’s our men’s long jump preview for the Tokyo Olympics.
Schedule
Saturday 31 July 11:10 UK Time (Qualification) Monday 2 August 02:20 UK Time (Final)
2021 Furthers Jumps
| 2021 Ranking | Distance (m) | Athlete | Country |
| 1 | 8.6 | Miltiadis Tentoglou | Greece |
| 2 | 8.47 | JuVaughn Harrison | USA |
| 3 | 8.39 | Jeff Henderson | USA |
| 3 | 8.39 | Maykel Masso | Cuba |
| 5 | 8.38 | Marquis Dendy | USA |
| 5 | 8.38 | Juan Miguel Echevarria | Cuba |
| 7 | 8.36 | Yuki Hashioka | Japan |
| 8 | 8.34 | Carey McLeod | Jamaica |
| 9 | 8.29 | Corey Crawford | USA |
| 9 | 8.29 | Tajay Gayle | Jamaica |
British interest
There are no British entrants for the men’s long jump.
The favourites
Mitiadis Tentoglou is undefeated this year outdoors and has really jumped his way into gold medal contention. Wins in Monaco, at the European Indoors and the European Team Championships have built championship experience and what will please him most is that in every outdoor competition he has jumped over 8.20m.
The reigning champ in Jeff Henderson failed to qualify in the US trials so JuVaughn Harrison, entered also in the High Jump will provide the US challenge. Only twenty-two he jumped 8.47m to win the US title impressively and has only lost once this year. His first major champs, much will depend on how he can manage the experience but the potential is there for all to see.
Joining him on the US team are Marquis Dendy, the World Indoor Champ from 2016 and Steffin McCarter (8.26m this year).
The man to beat remains Tajay Gayle, the Jamaican World Champ. He jumped an intimidating (though wind illegal) 8.55m in Stockholm and jumped further than Tentoglou in Monaco (though they have the final three format in the Diamond League where the biggest jump in the last round jump off wins. It is not in Tokyo).
Like Gayle, World bronze medalist from Doha, Juan Miguel Echevarria of Cuba also jumped a wind illegal 8.55m and has only lost to Gayle this year. He will be there or thereabouts once more.
An interesting addition is Yuki Hashioka who hasn’t jumped outside Japan this year but is right up there on the world list. His 8.36m isn’t a Japanese record but it is world class and has come just weeks before the Games. That record is one held by his teammate Shotaro Shiroyama who hasn’t reached the same heights this year.
Thobias Montler, the European Indoors silver medalist could also force his way into contention alongside Jamaica’s Carey McLeod who was third in the NCAA champs.
Our medal predictions
- Tajay Gayle
- Mitiadis Tentoglou
- JuVaughn Harrison
Records
WR: 8.95m Mike Powell (1991)
OR: 8.90m Bob Beamon (1968 Mexico City)
Feautred image “Bob Beamon” by RobHelfman is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
