MILTOS TENTOGLOU
THE HUMBLE CHAMPION

Miltiadis (Miltos) Tentoglou claimed his third straight title with a jump of 8.30m at the indoor European Championships in Istanbul. The Greek athlete becomes the first male long jumper to win three successive European indoor titles. Tentoglou also won this title in 2019 and 2021 and is the reigning Olympic, European and world indoor champion. His joy tempered by the rail tragedy in Tempi, champion Greek long jumper Miltos Tentoglou appeared before the state broadcaster ERT with mixed feelings after winning a gold medal.

 

“What happened was tragic. I am ashamed to speak. What Nyfantopoulos said was the best: that we may be competing here but no one can ease the pain of these people. I do not know where I should dedicate this victory,” he said.

 

He thanked the Greek supporters for the wonderful atmosphere they created in the stadium for all athletes on the Greek team, including himself.

 

Asked to comment on the fact that he was the first European long jumper to win three gold medals in successive meets, the Greek Olympic medallist said:

“It is important for me and I am glad I achieved this. I was not that good, it was an early start. I tried my best and had a good jump but it was invalid. I normally do the biggest jump first and if this had been an evening event I would certainly have jumped 8.5 meters. I am not unbeatable, in European games, I’m OK but today I could have lost because I was not my best self. That’s how games are, the favourites lose and the outsiders can do something good.”

 

Regarding his next goals, Tentoglou said his sights were set on a Greek record and a gold medal at the world championships in Budapest. Greece climbed to the 7th position of the European Championships with the help of Miltos Tentoglou gold medal in the long jump. Tentoglou achieved the longest jump performed so far this year in February. During the Toruń meeting in Poland, he jumped 8.40 meters, securing victory and setting a new record for the event. The record-setting jump in Poland is another strong performance from Tentoglou, who won a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

 

In 2022, Tentoglou became the World Indoor Champion jumping the current Greek indoor record of 8.55 metres, which places him sixth on the world indoor all-time list, and took silver at the outdoor World Championships. He holds an outdoor personal best of 8.60 m.