World Champs Men’s Long Jump — Young Furlani Schools His Elders

The Paris Olympics bronze medalist while still a teen, 20-year-old Italian Mattia Furlani soared past the rest of the best here. (KIRBY LEE/IMAGN IMAGES)

IN THIS COMPETITION, marked by several lead changes and surprises, youth finally prevailed over experience, perhaps heralding a proverbial “changing of the guard.”

Personifying experience was double Olympic and defending world champion Miltiádis Tentóglou, the most accomplished field event competitor in the very, very long history of Hellenic athletics. Hampered by lingering injuries in 2025 (“knees, Achilles, feet, everywhere”), he nevertheless arrived in Tokyo finally in good form, and qualified easily with a one-and-done jump of 26-9¾ (8.17).

But disaster struck on his first jump in the final: “I got cramps on my calf in both legs at the same time. And then I couldn’t do anything.” Tentóglou would finish 11th, just behind the USA’s Isaac Grimes.

Experience also had representation from Tajay Gayle, the 2019 Worlds winner, who had been beset by physical woes ever since, with only occasional flashes of brilliance. The Jamaican led all qualifiers with his 27-2 (8.28), then opened the final with a 27-4 (8.33) (-0.5 wind) mark, good for an early lead that would not last.

More experience rode with Swiss decathlete Simon Ehammer, 3rd in this event in 2022, and China’s Yuhao Shi, who placed 6th as a teenager at London 2017 and jumped 27-8 (8.43) the next year — yet has weathered debilitating injuries since. Shi took the lead from Gayle with a second-round 27-4, on a better second effort.

In the third round, Gayle missed the board but retook the lead with a 26-5¾ (8.07) second effort, and Ehammer recorded his best of the day, 27-2¾ (8.30), to move into 3rd.

At the end of three rounds, Gayle led from Shi and Ehammer, with young Bulgarian Bozhidar Saraboyukov 4th at 26-10½ (8.19), Chinese Mingkun Zhang 5th at 26-10 (8.18), and Swede Thobias Montler 6th.

Lurking in 7th was 20-year-old Mattia Furlani, this year’s World Indoor winner with his PR 27-5½ (8.37). A jumper with terrific runway speed and only average lift, the young Italian produced a colossal foul in the first round, followed by a safe 26-8¼ (8.13).

Gayle improved one centimeter to 27-4½ (8.34) in round 4, and Furlani elevated himself to 4th with his 26-11¾ (8.22).

Then, in round 5, youth was served. Furlani hit the board well and landed 27-6½ (8.39) away.

No one could muster a meaningful response. Game over.

“I am in great shape tonight and was confident I could do it,” said the youngest-ever long jump champion. “At the beginning, I had a small problem with my runup, but I tried to stay calm and save the best for last. This is a perfect year for me.”

MEN’S LONG JUMP RESULTS

FINAL (September 17)

1. Mattia Furlani (Ita) 27-6½ (8.39) PR

(f, 26-8¼, f, 26-11¾, 27-6½, 26-5¾) (f, 8.13, f, 8.22, 8.39, 8.07);

2. Tajay Gayle (Jam) 27-4½ (8.34)

(27-4, f, 26-5¾, 27-4½, 20-11¼, 26-5¾) (8.33, f, 8.07, 8.34, 6.38, 8.07);

3. Yuhao Shi (Chn) 27-4 (8.33)

(25-8¾, 27-4, 26-5½, f, p, f) (7.84, 8.33, 8.06, f, p, f);

4. Simon Ehammer (Swi) 27-2¾ (8.30)

(26-1, 26-¼, 27-2¾, 26-2¼, 26-8¼, 26-5½) (7.95, 7.93, 8.30, 7.98, 8.13, 8.06);

5. Bozhidar Saraboyukov (Bul) 26-10½ (8.19)

(25-10¼, 26-10½, 25-10¾, f, f, 26-5½) (7.88, 8.19, 7.89, f, f, 8.06);

6. Mingkun Zhang (Chn) 26-10 (8.18) =PR

(f, 25-8¼, 26-10 [=PR], p, f, p) (f, 7.83, 8.18 [=PR], p, f, p);

7. Thobias Montler (Swe) 26-9¾ (8.17)

(f, 26-5¾, 26-8¼, f, 26-9¾) (f, 8.07, 8.13, f, 8.17);

8. Lester Lescay (Spa) 26-1¾ (7.97)

(f, f, 26-1¾, f, 26-1¾) (f, f, 7.97, f, 7.97);

9. Nikaoli Williams (Jam) 25-9¼ (7.85)

(19-2, 25-9¼, 25-4½, 25-8¾) (5.84, 7.85, 7.73, 7.84);

10. Isaac Grimes (US) 25-9¼ (7.85)

(25-6, 25-9¼, f, 24-10½) (7.77, 7.85, f, 7.58);

11. Miltiádis Tentóglou (Gre) 25-8¼ (7.83)

(25-8¼, f, 25-2) (7.83, f, 7.67);

12. Jaime Guerra (Spa) 25-7½ (7.81)

(25-5½, 25-7½, f) (7.76, 7.81, f).

* = progression of the leading jump; ¶ = athlete’s best of the day

first 3 rounds

Tentóglou
7.83*¶
f
7.67

Gayle
8.33*
f
8.07

Furlani
f
8.13
f

Ehammer
7.95
7.93
8.30¶

Saraboyukov
7.88
8.19¶
7.89

Zhang
f
7.83
8.18¶

Grimes
7.77
7.85¶
f

Shi
7.84
8.33¶
8.06

Montler
f
8.07
8.13

Guerra
7.76
7.81¶
f

Williams
5.84
7.85¶
7.73

Lescay
f
f
7.97¶

round 4

Williams
7.84

Grimes
7.58

Lescay
f

Furlani
8.22

Montler
f

Zhang
p

Saraboyukov
f

Ehammer
7.98

Shi
f

Gayle
8.34*¶

round 5

Lescay
7.97

Furlani
8.39*¶

Montler
8.17¶

Zhang
f

Saraboyukov
f

Ehammer
8.13

Shi
p

Gayle
6.38

last round

Zhang
p

Saraboyukov
8.06

Ehammer
8.06

Shi
f

Gayle
8.07

Furlani
8.07

QUALIFYING (September 15; auto-qualifier 26-9/8.15)

Qualifiers: Gayle 27-2 (8.28), Lescay 26-11¼ (8.21), Tentóglou 26-9¾ (8.17), Williams 26-9 (8.15), Guerra 26-8¼ (8.13), Montler 26-7¼ (8.11), Saraboyukov 26-7 (8.10), Shi 26-6¼ (8.08), Furlani 26-5¾ (8.07), Grimes 26-4½ (8.04), Ehammer 26-2¾ (7.99), Zhang 26-2¼ (7.98);

Non-Qualifiers: Yuki Hashioka (Jpn) 26-1 (7.95), Liam Adcock (Aus) 26-¾ (7.94), Gerson Baldé (Por) & Radek Juška (CzR) 26-¼ (7.93), Simon Batz (Ger) & Roko Farkaš (Cro) 26-0 (7.92), Erwan Konate (Fra) 25-10 (7.87), Carey McLeod (Jam) 25-9½ (7.86), Chris Mitrevski (Aus) 25-8¼ (7.83), Tom Campagne (Fra) 25-8 (7.82), Jeremiah Davis (US) 25-7½ (7.81), Godfred Edward (Ngr) 25-6¾ (7.79), Murali Sreeshankar (Ind) 25-6¼ (7.78), Raihau Maiau (PYF) 25-5¼ (7.75), Riku Ito (Jpn) 25-2½ (7.68), Emiliano Lasa (Uru) 25-2 (7.67), Will Williams (US) 25-½ (7.63), Emanuel Archibald (Guy) 25-0 (7.62), Arnovis Dalmero (Col) 24-11 (7.59), Cheswill Johnson (SA) 24-9¼ (7.55), Heng Shu (Chn) 24-9 (7.54), Jorge A. Hodelín (Cub) 24-7¼ (7.50), Filip Pravdica (Cro) 24-7 (7.49), Hibiki Tsuha (Jpn) 24-4¼ (7.42);… 3f—Anvar Anvarov (Uzb).

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