Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece won long jump gold at the World Championships on Thursday as his final leap of 8.52 metres edged him ahead of long-time leader Wayne Pinnock of Jamaica.
Tentoglou’s win had Greeks endlessly cheer as a spark of light amid the grim mood due to extensive wildfires of the last weeks.
Ιπτάμενος κανονικός ο Μίλτος ο #Τεντόγλου κ 🥇παγκόσμιος πρωταθλητής με 8.52 , τεράστιος ο παίχτης pic.twitter.com/EUMkvaQugh
— Kostas Anastopoulos (@KonAnastopoulos) August 24, 2023
Το 6ο άλμα του #Τεντογλου 8.52 μ. στο Παγκόσμιο Πρωτάθλημα στίβου που του έδωσε το χρυσό μετάλλιο. Μπράβο ρε Μίλτο παλικάρι!#Budapest23 #Budapest2023 pic.twitter.com/erjUDTBdqZ
— Georgios Sgourdos (@sgourdos) August 24, 2023
Ζωή μες τα καμμένα.
Μεγαλύτερος απ'τη χώρα του.
Αιτία να μη ντρέπεσαι που είσαι Έλληνας.#Τεντογλου pic.twitter.com/3TGGQtu2Z3— 2020mag.gr (@20_20_mag) August 24, 2023
Μπράβο ωρέ παλληκάρι. Μπράβο Μίλτο #Τεντογλου Μια μεγάλη αγκαλιά από τον ελληνικό λαό σε έναν μεγάλο έλληνα αθλητή. Εναν αθλητή που δεν έγινε παγκόσμιος πρωταθλητής για τα χρήματα, αλλά από την αγάπη του για την Ελλάδα (που τόσο τον έχει πληγώσει).
— Emanuel Kypreos (@EmanuelKypreos) August 25, 2023
Many posted on social media that Tentoglou is the reason for they’re not ashamed to be Greeks.
Last year’s silver medallist Tentoglou got the event off to a flier as he produced a huge season’s best 8.50 with his opening jump, only for Pinnock to match it in the second round, Reuters reported.
That put Pinnock, who flew to a world-leading 8.54 metres on his opening jump in Wednesday’s qualifying and a personal best by 17cm, in the lead on the back of having the best second jump by one centimetre.
In the final round, though, Tentoglou hit the board perfectly to soar ahead and Pinnock was unable to improve on his final attempt.
Jamaican Tajay Gayle snatched bronze with his final leap of 8.27, matching compatriot Carey McLeod but edging him on countback.
McLeod was lucky to escape injury after slipping on takeoff on his third jump, spiralling spectacularly into the air and landing face-first into the pit. div>
Congratulations. Indeed he does make Greeks proud. How sad it was during such a sad state of affairs when Greeks cannot be proud of their own government.
Kudos to you Miltiadis during these dark days.