Following the Brussels race, Tentoglou openly spoke about his challenges in athletics and a possible retirement. He also mentioned ongoing discussions surrounding changes to regulations, once again making it clear that he plans to stop competing in the sport if take-off regulations change.
In the race, Tentoglou took third place with a jump of 8.15 meters. In the final jump, Simon Ehammer edged him out by a single centimeter for second place. Meanwhile, the Jamaican jumper, Tajay Gayle, took the win with a jump of 8.28 meters.
Tentoglou falls short amidst long jump reform controversy
Miltos Tentoglou, against all odds, did not manage to win the diamond in the final of the Brussels Diamond League. He competed among the world’s best, aiming to secure the only title missing from his collection.
The Olympic champion was far from his best. He finished third in the long jump with a distance of 8.15 meters on his sixth and final attempt.
Meanwhile, since last February, there has been significant controversy over a proposed long jump reform. World Athletics is contemplating a new method for measuring long jumps. The traditional wooden take-off board would be replaced by a “take-off zone.”
Additionally, the jump would be measured from the point within that zone where the athlete’s front foot takes off to the spot where they land in the pit. “In practice, this means that every jump will count,” World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon told the BBC last February.
Reducing invalid jumps: A new take-off zone
The goal of this adjustment is to reduce the number of invalid jumps. Ridgeon cited the example of the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, where a third of all jumps were invalid.
“This doesn’t work, it’s a waste of time,” he added. “We’re testing a take-off zone in place of the board. We’re trying to find ways to get immediate results so that athletes don’t have to wait 20 or 30 seconds to learn the jump measurement.” World Athletics aims to make the sport faster and more exciting with this change.
However, Ridgeon admits, “When an athlete has dedicated their life to perfecting the take-off board technique, and suddenly we replace it with a take-off zone, I understand there can be an initial reaction,” he told the BBC.
Note that the revival of the Olympic Games reinvented the long jump, as it is an ancient sport.
Tentoglou’s stance: “I will leave the sport”
Following his match at the Diamond League in Brussels, Greek Olympic gold medalist Miltos Tentoglou reiterated that if the take-off regulation changes, it would mean his retirement from the sport. He voiced his strong opposition to the proposed changes to the long jump regulations.
Tentoglou, now focusing on preparing for the indoor track and field season, has left open the possibility of retirement from the sport, stating, “I will start my preparation for indoor track, unless the take-off regulation changes. In that case, I will leave the sport.” He highlighted his determination to defend what he considers fair terms for the long jump event.
