Tamgho smashes world record to win indoor triple jump title

From David Jordan, Sportsbeat, in Doha

FRANCE'S Teddy Tamgho sent shockwaves through the ASPIRE Dome in the last event of the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Doha, setting an world record to win the men's triple jump.

THE NEW STAR: France's world junior champion Teddy Tangho underlined his status as the one to watch in men's triple jump with an indoor world record in Doha (Getty Images)

With the competition drawing to a close, the 20-year old world junior champion was lying second behind Cuba's Yoandri Betanzos with just one jump remaining.

But the youngster had saved his best for last and soared through the hot Doha air to record 17.90m, beating Christian Olsson and Aliecer Urrutia's joint record of 17.83m.

Athletes had been complaining all weekend that the runways were too slow in the ASPIRE Dome, with unusually below-par performances in the men's and women's long jump qualifying.

But Tamgho proved any complaints were premature, leaping into the record books and setting himself up for a breakthrough outdoor season.

"I didn't think I'd be able to achieve such a performance today," said the Tamgho. "I knew I had it in me, because last year in Bercy, I had a foul close to 18m.

"But I thought if I won, it would be around 17.60m. After the Cuban jumped 17.69m, I had to react and give it all.

"It's a fantastic feeling - I really can't describe fully my emotions."

Bezantos had only recorded two distances in the first five jumps, with his first effort of 17.69m a personal best and seemingly good enough for the title.

But the Frenchman's remarkable finish meant the Cuban needed one last effort and, nursing an injury, he looked far from confident standing on the runway for his final jump.

Sure enough, the 28-year old couldn't improve on his first effort and settled for silver while another Cuban, defending silver medallist Arnie Girat, jumped 17.36m to bronze.

Meanwhile, Russia's Ivan Ukhov added the world high jump title to his European crown.

The 23-year old jumped 2.36m at the first time of asking to finish well-clear of the field with compatriot Yaroslav Rybakov collecting silver with a jump of 2.31m and USA's Dusty Jonas bronze having made the same distance after two attempts.

Great Britain's Samson Oni qualified behind the two Russians in third but failed to reach the same heights in the final and finished eighth with a best height of 2.24m