Christian Taylor might have burst onto the big stage in the most dramatic fashion last year by producing a stunning fourth-round jump of 17.96 metres in winning the world championships gold in Daegu. But the 22-year-old American has projected himself as the firm favourite for the Olympic title.
Only world record holder Jonathan Edwards of Britain (18.29), Americans Kenny Harrison and Willie Banks, and Frenchman Teddy Tamgho have jumped farther in the all-time lists.
That Daegu performance was the ninth best ever and Taylor was only the fifth man to have reached or crossed such a distance.Taylor could have expected a tough fight from Briton Philips Idowu on his home turf in the London Games, but the man who led the field till the fourth round in Daegu has not been at his best this season and in recent weeks, there has been speculation about his fitness. Taylor won the US Olympic trials, 17.63 to 17.55 from Will Claye, the man who beat him for the world indoor title in Istanbul earlier this year. He has five marks over 17 metres this season outdoors, including the trials result in Eugene that gives him the top spot. He has three such marks indoors as well. Having been the world youth champion in 2007, Taylor had made a mark for himself by winning the NCAA titles back-to-back in 2010. He is a 10.61s sprinter, a 45.34 quarter-miler and an 8.19m long jumper. Claye, who was third in Daegu, has also been impressive with four results over 17m outdoors and as many indoors.
He was ninth in long jump (8.10m) at the Daegu worlds.Idowu, world champion in 2009, has the best credentials among the current batch of jumpers, being also a world indoor champion in 2008 and European champion in 2007. Speculation grew over his readiness totackle the Olympics in front of his home fans when he pulled out of the Oslo and Paris Diamond League meets and also the UK trials in Birmingham. He was scheduled to compete in the Aviva London Grand Prix last week, but withdrew at the last moment, triggering further debate. He, however, in a recorded message to the media, stated recently that he was looking forward to competing in front of his parents. Idowu has only managed a best of 17.31m that gives him the 10th place in the season lists.
He has competed only in three meets so far in his run-up to the Games.Russian Lyukman Adams (PB and SB 17.53), Italian Fabrizio Donato (SB 17.53) and Cuban Osviel Hernandes (PB and SB 17.49) are the other contenders in triple jump. Tamgho, like it was for the Daegu worlds, is in the injured list and will miss London.
A former world indoor champion, the Frenchman has five jumps of 17.90 or better, outdoorsand indoors, with a best of 17.98 in New York in 2010.
