Taylor takes triple-jump gold with second-longest ever leap

American Christian Taylor produced the second-longest triple jump in history as he soared 18.21 metres to take gold in a high-quality world championship competition on Thursday.

In a week of outstanding head-to-heads in the Bird’s Nest Stadium, the men’s triple jump final always promised to be among the best and it did not disappoint. Taylor and Cuba’s Pedro Pichardo came to Beijing having between them produced the 10 best marks of 2015, with the Cuban leading the way with 18.08m.

Taylor delivered the coup de grace with his sixth and final jump, landing just short of the 18.29m world record that has stood to Britain’s Jonathan Edwards since the 1995 world championships.

Edwards, who was watching the contest at the stadium, later tweeted to Taylor: “You gave me a scare my friend!! Brilliant performance.”