An attempt at the LJ and TJ WR high up in the mountains.
An attempt at the LJ and TJ WR high up in the mountains.
Manyonga will try to set new world record
15 August 2017, 08:34
The world long jump champion, Luvo Manyonga, had his sights set on the world record for quite a while now and just maybe tomorrow in France it might happen.
It is certainly going to be a unique world record attempt. If the Tuks/HPC-athlete, or any of the other six athletes competing succeed in doing so, there is bound to be some controversy because they are competing at 3 032 metres above sea-level on a specially built long-jump track. Most of the world record attempts happened at sea level.
The athletes will warm up at an indoor facility in Tignes and will then be flown up by helicopter to the track in the Alps. It is about a two-minute flight.
Mike Powell, who jumped 8.95 metres in 1991 at the Tokyo World Championships, holds the current world record.
The records (8.95 and 18.29) are safe. Looks beautiful but cold as a well diggers shovel up there. . Athletes warmed up indoors at lower altitude and helicoptered up to jump in the snow filled valley.