News03 Apr 2009


Tamgho to Tango in Paris - ÅF Golden League

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Teddy Tamgho sails 17.58m in Bercy (© Jiro Mochizuki (Agence shot))

Teddy Tamgho, the reigning World junior champion in the Triple Jump, is among the first French athletes confirmed for the Meeting Areva, the fourth fixture of this season’s ÅF Golden League, on Friday, 17 July.

One of the most promising rising stars in the sport, Tamgho illustrated during the recent indoor season that he could well be the future of his event. Not yet 20 – that milestone will be celebrated on 15 June – Tamgho leaped 17.58m in Paris in February, a jump which landed him just outside the event’s all-time top-10 indoors.

But it wasn’t an easy decision for the teenager, and for his coaches Jean-Hervé Stievenart and Laurence Bily, to chose between the Meeting Areva and the European Under-23 Championships which take place the same weekend in Kaunas, Lithuania. The latter could provide him with another international, while the former provides with a very high level confrontation ‘with the big boys' - in front of more than 50,000 spectators.

“Above all else it will be a very high level competition and I find that really motivating,” Tamgho said. “Added to that, the Stade de France is something else! The public will be present and I'm happy to perform there as people don't really know me yet. Furthermore my friends and family will be there... so the party can begin.”

Asked to suggest a line-up for the competition at the Stade de France, Tamgho left no stones unturned.

Ideally, he said, “Philipps Idowu (GBR) and Nelson Evora (POR) without question. I’d really be very happy to do battle with jumpers such as these. And the Cuban school too - for me they're fabulous jumpers - and of course there's the French contingent too: Benjamin Compaoré - my friend, Karl Taillepierre and Colomba Fofana.”

“My aim is to win the competition but also to enjoy it - a triple jump competition is also a party - with such athletes as these, all the ingredients for a very fine competition are in place. The organisers may have other plans though!”

But his ‘A’ Levels come first.

"The Bac is a priority," his coaches confirmed. “Teddy won't participate in any competition from 19th to 27th June - the results will be given on 3rd July. If Teddy is accepted we'll certainly be seeking a meeting prior to the competition at the Stade de France. Otherwise there will be no competition until the oral examinations, namely until 10th July."

His season, primarily geared towards the World Championships in Berlin in August, is set to get underway in May with two inter-club meetings (3 and 17 May), the final of the European Champions Club Cup (31 May). He has also confirmed appearances at the Montreuil meeting on 11 June, and after the Meeting Areva, he’ll compete at the French Elite Championships and the Monaco Super Grand Prix.

Laurence Dacoury (Meeting Areva) for the IAAF

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