by Stuart Weir
Stuart Weir wrote this piece on the Women’s long jump and the battle that happened for the medals.
Women’s long jump
Let me explain to you how the women’s long jump works. 12 athletes take three jumps each, then the top 8 get a further 3 jumps, and at the end, Malaika Mihambo wins!
The final results were:
1 Malaika Mihambo 7.12m
2 Ese Brume 7.02m
3 Letica Oro Melo 6.89m
4 Quanesha Burks 6.88m
5 Brooka Buschkuehl 6.87m
6 Khaddi Sagnia 6.87m
7 Ivan Vuleta 6.84m
8 Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk 6.79m
It was a high-quality competition with 5 five centimeters separating 3rd to 7th.
The lead changed hands regularly, with Jazmin Sawyers setting the standard with 6.62m. Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk moved it forward to 6.79m. Letica Oro Melo then cleared 6.89m. Ese Brume’s 7.02m took the competition to a new level. Step forward Malaika Mihambo, with 7.09m and 7.12m.
There were moments of failure and panic too. The great Mihambo opened with two fouls. She sent for a “safe” jump from behind the board. It registered 6.98m. Letica Oro Melo opened with 6.89m but followed it with 5 fouls. Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk has 4 successive fouls.
But, in the end, it was the two seven-meter jumps from Mihambo that made the difference.
Assessments of the medalists:
Winner – Malaika MIHAMBO, GER
“Again, two foul attempts at the beginning, but this time, it was different. I am having some technical issues. Just made the last two steps too long and then did faults. But I knew that I can do it, that I can make a valid third attempt. That is what I did, and after that, there was no pressure. I could not believe it after the second attempt. I was feeling good, and I was just waiting for that, and then I felt like: Oh no, it cannot be true. But I am ready for such situations, and I know that I can do better and just had to push myself. For sure, in Munich European Championships, I want to go for gold, but for me, I also just want to get my best. I am really looking forward to it.”
Second – Ese BRUME, NGR
“I am super proud of our team. Last championships, we just got one medal. Now we are getting out with two medals. So I am so grateful for myself and for my friends, and I hope it is going this way. Thank God it was only in his hands. It is a wonderful night for Nigeria, for all of us. It was an amazing progression. I was leading and wanted the gold, but I am grateful because last time I got the bronze, and I am silver now. Tobi Amusan is my best friend, everybody knows. It was amazing for us because this is what we are trained for. She deserves it so much.”
Third – Leticia ORO MELO, BRA
“I am very happy. I had knee surgery at the end of December. I had no fear. I gave everything and came here to win a medal. I set a new personal best and stepped on the podium. It’s a dream come true. I was the last woman to qualify yesterday. My run-up was off. I watched the videos and adjusted them, and it worked out. I was not nervous. I believed it was God. I focused on myself and my jumps. I am very new in the sport, but I have the conditions to jump seven meters.”
Statistical Summary
- Malaika Mihambo (GER) defended her gold medal in the women’s long jump, adding another title that also includes the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold. Her mark of 7.12, set in the 6th round, was the 2nd best of 2022.
- Esa Brume (NGR) was the silver medalist, giving Nigeria its 5th silver medal at the World Championships (all events), only minutes after Tobi Amusan won the nation’s 1st gold in the women’s 100 meters.
- Leticia Oro Melo won Brazil’s first-ever medal in the event with the bronze. Their previous best finish was 6th by Maureen Maggi in both 2007 and 2009.
- Only 2 centimeters separated the 3-4-5-6th places, as Oro Melo jumped 6.89, Quanesha Burks (USA) jumped 6.88 in 4th, and Brooke Buschkuehl (AUS) and Khaddi Sagnia (SWE) both had a mark of 6.87, with Buschkuehl taking 5th based on the 2nd best jump.
- Buschkuehl’s 5th place finish was the best ever by Australia in this event, after her 6th (as Brooke Stratton) in 2017.
