Teddy Tamgho of France on his way to the World Indoor Triple Jump record in Doha (© Getty Images)
Last Sunday (14) at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar, France’s Teddy Tamgho with a 17.90m performance became not only the gold medallist but also the World indoor record holder* in the men’s Triple Jump.
With the kind permission of his press representative Laurence Dacoury, we are pleased to publish this interview with the new champion and recordbreaker. Tamgho is the reigning World Junior champion and is 20-years-old.
Teddy, how does it feel to wake up in the skin of a World indoor champion and recordholder?
“I haven’t fully taken it in yet. It’s still fresh and so unexpected. I’ve just completed a very successful competition. I have a World title, something which no-one can ever take away from me, something that is mine forever.”
“When I won the World championships in 2008, in the junior category, I was in the competition to win it. I was the favourite. Victory was mine. It was almost easy. Right now, amongst the seniors, the competition is a lot stiffer and considerably closer. I set off feeling less confident than in the junior Worlds. At the finish though, I was rather proud to have beaten all the guys ranked behind me.”
How do you rate the jump which gave you the World indoor record (17.90m)?
“If I had done the jump in a meeting, I would have deemed it to be imperfect. From a technical point of view, it’s not exempt from criticism. I was unbalanced on the last jump, my shoulders were too far forward. I had to compensate for that with a scissor jump to avoid landing in a squatting position in the sand. However, I’m certainly not going to complain about the jump. It gave me the world championship title. The performance is almost the icing on the cake.”
How do you explain pulling off this performance today, just months after a rather disappointing summer season in 2009?
“I’ve said it before, I grew up last year. My season wasn’t very good, but I learnt a lot. I knew how to take onboard the advice from some of my adversaries, such as Jadel Gregorio and Phillips Idowu. They told me to calm down, to do things properly, with control, without seeking to win the competition before even competing in it. Several overseas coaches came to speak to me, to tell me I was talented, but that I had to channel my energy on the jumping pit. I heeded them. And finally I’ve matured.
“Technically I’m the same and don’t feel that I’ve made any progress. But I am more powerful. That’s all. Today I am capable of bringing all the elements together to do things properly.”
What was your mindset for getting through this World Indoor Championship?
“It was difficult to manage. The competition was behind schedule and it was necessary to stay warmed-up and concentrated. It was also the first time that I’d found myself amongst the top eight in a big senior final.”
“After my first attempt at 17.41m, I managed to contain my delight; I didn’t want to explode. I knew I’d do better, added to that I didn’t want to show my rivals that I was happy. On the contrary, I decided to stay calm. Afterwards, I was over the line on two jumps which were doubtless further than my World record, but I never left the competition.”
You landed 10 cm away from the 18m line. Is this distance a barrier?
“18m in the Triple Jump is another world. It’s a closed circle which just two athletes have entered, English jumper Jonathan Edwards and American Kenny Harrison. Some have come close. I’m part of those today. And I’ve certainly foot faulted on jumps of 18m or over. That’s why I have to gradually demystify this barrier. I’m very close. But today I have trouble speaking about it with an air of detachment. For me it’s still a myth, a jump of legend.”
Since your victory in Doha, you’re already being labelled as the new leader of French athletics. Are you ready to take on that role?
“This matter shouldn’t be stated in these terms. A single jump, even accompanied by a World record, doesn’t make me the leader of French athletics. I have no experience. I haven’t yet brought a lot to my sport. In my eyes, Ladji Doucouré and Leslie Djhone remain the true leaders. They have experience, the track record, the attitude and the expertise. Personally I still only have a few tools in my box.”
What are your ambitions today?
“To put in regular performances and to continue to work on controlling my jumping better, I mustn’t fall back to 16m anymore, but always land a jump of around 17m. It won’t be easy but I must stretch myself towards this objective. After that the results will follow.”
In the immediate future, how are you going to fill your days?
“I’ve cut down on the work a bit since the final of the World Indoor championships. Furthermore I’m going to continue in that vein as I’m going on holiday on Friday (19), for a week in the United States. I’m going to visit my sister in Miami. It’ll be a week far away from athletics to give me a chance to think about other things…my first holidays since 2004.”
“I’m going to keep in shape with a few jogging sessions and a spot of maintenance. However, I do have to give myself a break so that I can then come back and throw myself into my training with more drive than ever,” concluded Teddy Tamgho, the new World record breaker.
Laurence Dacoury for the IAAF
*World indoor record subject to the usual ratification procedures
