Sports Festival, Powell and the never-beaten record: “8.95 in Tokyo ’91? Not a perfect jump”

From our correspondent Andrea Buongiovanni

@abuongi

October 14th
– TRENT

After Bob Beamon in 2022, Mike Powell in 2023: the Sports Festival celebrates the greatest long jumpers ever. If the legendary 8.90 of the first in Mexico City 1968 remained as a world record for 23 years, the 8.95 of the second at the World Championships in Tokyo 1991 “lived” for 32. It is the longest-standing record in the history of the specialty. “And yet – claims the 59-year-old American, with contagious sympathy, in a packed Sala Depero – that leap, in the closing phase, was not perfect. In ideal conditions, in that period, I could have landed around 9.15, a measurement also achieved in training”. Powell passionately recounts his career, which, unlike Beamon’s, did not end with a single exploit. “The two world golds and one bronze, the two Olympic silvers – he recalls – all in an era in which an athlete like Carl Lewis was dictating the law. He was so superior to me that I couldn’t even call him a rival. Before Tokyo, the head-to-head record was 15-0…”.

The memory

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In Japan however, at the end of an unforgettable race, one of the biggest and most exciting ever, the world turned upside down. An 8.83, an 8.84, an 8.87, nor a windy 8.91 were not enough for the Son of the Wind to prevail. “I almost still don’t believe it now – smiles Mike – even though deep down I always believed that I would be capable of such a result. As a kid I dreamed of becoming an NBA basketball champion, I found myself a star in the long jump and in athletics in general, I will forever be grateful.” To the point of fantasizing, at 60, about participating in next year’s Olympic Trials… “And if I don’t make it – he adds – my student Jermel Jones will make it. I have been training him at Azusa Pacific University, near Los Angeles, for a couple of seasons: I took him when he had a personal best of 7.77, he reached 8.10”.

With Furlani

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There is another jumper on whom Powell is ready to bet: in Trento, an honored and almost emotional guest, he sits next to him. It’s Mattia Furlani, the 18-year-old Italian phenomenon who this year achieved a windy 8.44 and a regular 8.24. “I saw him in action – admits Powell – he impressed me. He looks like me as a child. He won’t be long in arriving at 8.60-8.70. As long as he doesn’t go as far as my record: if he then wants to come and train with me…”. The Rietino hangs from his lips. “Thank you, I’m staying with my coach mother – replies the policeman – but being able to compare myself with such a champion is priceless. His advice is invaluable.” They will be exploited soon: the new season is around the corner.