Chris Tomlinson all set to take off

Jun 30 2010 by Steve Brown, The Journal

FOR someone who claims to be “c**p at selling myself”, Chris Tomlinson is proving himself wrong.

“I’m not pulling any punches,” said the Middlesbrough-born long jumper, set to compete at the Aviva British Grand Prix at Gateshead a week on Saturday, when he expects to form part of the “best crop of athletes” the venue has hosted in a decade.

“I’m just saying I want to be the best and I believe I can be.

“I said I want to go to 2012, I said that I want to win 2012 and it’s about how I actually get from being an 8.29m jumper to generating 8.50m so I can go to competitions and win.

“I’m 28 now. I think Jonathan (Edwards) was about 30 when he made his real breakthrough and Mike Powell was 27 when he set the current world record (8.95m).

“I got into the sport a bit later and as a result I think I’ll improve later. I’ve been held back for a lot of years by injury so I’m sure I can still produce my best distances in the future. I believe my prime is still to come.”

So not a bad pitch for a self-confessed shoddy salesman, but then Tomlinson has good reason to be confident ahead of Gateshead – which is now part of athletics’ Diamond League.

A wind-assisted leap of 8.17m won him first place – and a sponsored Alfa Romeo – at last weekend’s UK Championships in Birmingham, and with the European Championships and Commonwealth Games on then horizon, the former British record holder is aiming to move up through the gears.

“My season’s been going quite well,” he said.

“I jumped 8.17m from behind the board (at Birmingham), which means I’m jumping well and I think I’m going to jump much further soon.

“I’d love to increase my distances and my medal cabinet with World and Olympic gold medals and that’s something that I’m trying to achieve at the moment.

“The Europeans and the Commonwealths are the year’s big championships and I’m looking towards them. For me, it’s about stepping stones leading into 2012.

“Gateshead is part of that.

“The Aviva British Grand Prix is going to be great.

“From an athletic point of view and for the fans, I believe the Diamond League’s probably going to bring the best crop of athletes that a Gateshead meeting has seen in the last 10 or 15 years.

“I know Asafa Powell’s signed up, and Tyson Gay.

“I get the opportunity to jump against Dwight Phillips and someone told me the South African Godfrey Mokoena, the guy who beat me at the World Indoor Championships, will also be there.

“I’m feeling very confident going into it that I can step up an extra gear and start mixing it with these people.” And confident too, that such competition will prove an enticing draw for the North East.

“I remember coming to Gateshead as a kid to watch and now I’m stepping out there to compete, with my friends and family in the crowd,” Tomlinson said.

“Everyone’s cheering me on. I guess I’m the local lad so it’s great to have the support of a home crowd.

“The history of athletics in the North East has always been great from Brendan Foster to Steve Cram and Jonathan Edwards to name just a few. Bringing the athletics up to Gateshead is obviously great for the area. It’s a good family day out, I used to have a great time coming as a kid.

“I’m sure it’ll be a good day as long as the sun shines – which I’m sure it will!”

Sunshine for Gateshead’s athletics? See, Tomlinson could sell anything.

:: TICKETS for the Aviva British Grand Prix at Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday, July 10 are available from www.uka.org.uk or on 08000 556 056.