World Athletics Indoor Championships 2024: Miltiadis Tentoglou edges out teenage "beast" Mattia Furlani in long jump thriller
The Greek icon bested the young pretender in a dramatic finale in Glasgow with Jamaica's Carey Mcleod taking bronze.
Athletics
Miltiadis Tentoglou needed countback to defeat Italian youngster Mattia Furlani in the men's long jump final at the Glasgow 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships on Saturday (2 March).
Both men had a best jump of 8.22m in the opening round, but it was Greece's reigning world and Olympic champion who went in front with a fourth-round effort of 8.15m.
That came just moments after Furlani had enthusiastically celebrated his 8.10m with the crowd.
And in the final round, 25-year-old Tentolglou jumped 8.19m to underline his second world indoor title.
But the Greek master was far from satisfied with his performance, or the early start time, as he told Olympics.com exclusively afterwards.
"Today was very close indeed but it was not very good for me," he said. "Not a very good competition. I was trying my best, but I couldn't find a good jump.
"The first jump, it was really bad, and I thought that I will improve it later on because it felt bad, but I was just not feeling like myself."
Meanwhile, teenager Furlani was delighted with his achievement, saying, "It’s crazy. I dreamt of this moment for 20 weeks now. And to have this medal – I very much appreciate it."
Tentoglou and Furlani set for ongoing long jump duel
Tentoglou is a fan of the youngster snapping at his heels, saying of Furlani with a smile, "He's a beast."
He added, "I expect him to be one of the best in the next few years, and we are going to have some great battles."
On his side, Furlani says of the icon: "Tentoglou is really good. Last year I watched him, and, in my mind, I said, ‘Wow, it is impossible to compete.' But now I am here and it’s good.”
This duel could continue throughout the season with Furlani hoping to shine in front of his home crowd in Rome at June's European Championships.
But that all pales into relative insignificance compared to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games where Tentoglou will defend his crown.
"Paris is my big goal this season and I'm very confident about this," he said. "I know that I will be ready at that time. Everything is going smooth for me. I mean, I didn't jump anything fantastic (today), but I think it's going on a very good rhythm, so I will be ready."
This was another narrow win for Tentoglou who took victory at last year's Budapest World Championships by just two centimetres with his final jump, and also won Olympic gold - on countback - with his last attempt.
So what's the secret?
"I don't know. I have done this so many times, you know, by one centimetre or exactly the same, many times. I don't know how this is possible. Probably I'm lucky, you know?"
The Thessaloniki native has already won all there is to win, so what keeps him going?
"It's very difficult to stay motivated for me, but what keeps me motivated is a good result. And that's why I don't feel great today. I don't care about winning because the (jump) was not good."
Perhaps the challenge of upstart Furlani could keep him focused for Paris and beyond.