Germany’s “Blade Jumper” Markus Rehm leapt to gold at the Tokyo Paralympics on Wednesday but failed to topple his own gargantuan long jump ...
Germany’s “Blade Jumper” Markus Rehm leapt to gold at the Tokyo Paralympics on Wednesday but failed to topple his own gargantuan long jump world record.
The 33-year-old set a new T64 record in June of 8.62m, which would have won him gold at every Olympics since 1992, and set his sights on breaking it again in Tokyo.
A leap of 8.18 was his best effort on a cool and drizzly evening, but it was more than enough to give him his third straight title and a fourth Paralympic gold overall.
Rehm said he was happy with the gold but disappointed he could not jump further.
“It was in my mind, definitely,” he said of the record.
“I aimed for a bit longer jump but that’s how it is. The goal was to win the gold medal, and maybe we can attack the 8.62 another time.”
Rehm had wanted to compete at the Tokyo Olympics this summer and said he had still not received an explanation why he could not.
“It is OK to make the decision that I can’t compete, but to make a decision without telling me why is just a shame,” he said.
Ahead of Rehm’s appearance, Tunisian Raoua Tlili took her second gold of the Games with a world-record discus throw in the...
