No silver lining as Chris Tomlinson takes third
Aug 2 2010 The Journal
MIDDLESBROUGH'S Chris Tomlinson was left dreaming of what might have been in Barcelona last night - despite claiming his maiden senior outdoor medal by taking bronze at the European Championships.
Tomlinson looked destined to claim long jump silver in the Catalan capital – his first major medal at the 11th attempt – after leaping a season’s best of 8.23m.
Germany’s Christian Reif secured gold early by leaping a giant lifetime best of 8.47m in the third round – but Frenchman Kafetien Gomis left it to the last minute before eclipsing Tomlinson by one centimetre. Despite proving the doubters wrong at the Olympic Stadium, the former Middlesbrough AC long jumper admits there is work to do if he is to add to his European gong.
Tomlinson said: “I had some of the best jumps of my life out there, but the big massive jump never came and when Gomis jumped that in the last round I was gutted – but such is life.
“I guess I would say I am a work in progress. I am sure there is something to build on there.
“I kept improving as the competition went on and to claim a bronze and a season’s best – I am happy with that.
“I probably have to look at that and say that is the best most consistent jumping I have ever produced.
“I think there is a lot more there, but for now I am just going to enjoy it.” Tomlinson has often attracted the scorn of the critics for failing to live up to the promise he displayed when he broke Lynn Davies’ 34-year-old British record with a leap of 8.27m in 2002.
After spending the past 18 months working hard on his long jump technique, the 28-year-old insisted he was thinking forward – not back.
He added: “I feel like there is still a monster in there, it did not come out today but I am still working to try and get it to come out one day soon.
“It is a European medal to go with my world outdoor meda,l so I am happy with that. I put in some consistent jumps today, but I am sure that if I keep my head up the 8.50m will come soon. I think at the Europeans you have to be looking to medal and I have managed to do that so I am pleased.
“I have to look at this as a springboard for London 2012 because those two days are going to define my athletics career.”
