On 16 August 2017, Tignes will become the venue of a new event – not a ski event, but athletics!
The resort plans to set up athletics jumping pits at the foot of la Grande Motte glacier at 3032m in an audacious attempt to break the world records for both long jump and triple jump.
Existing world record is 8.95m
The existing long jump world record of 8.95 m was set at the Tokyo World Championships in 1991 by the American Mike Powell.
It’s hoped that the increased sprinting speed that can be attained at altitude will be higher and help a new world record to be set.
Stellar field of athletes
Tignes has drawn in a stellar field of athletes to take part, including four Olympic long jump medalists: Jeff Henderson won gold at last year’s Olympic Games in Rio 2016), while all Brits will remember ‘Super Saturday’ when Greg Rutherford joined Mo Farah and Jess Ennis in winning gold at the London 2012 Olympics.
Also taking part are Godfrey Mokoena and Luvo Manyonga (silver medal winner at Rio 2016).
Representing France will be Kafétien Gomis, the French national long jump champion, and his teammate, Jean-Pierre Bertrand, a young French athlete who shone this winter, beating his personal best at the Indoor Open Championships in Tignes.
The public will be able to take the funicular to the top to watch a unique attempt to break the long jump and triple jump world records by jumping at this exceptional altitude.
Triple Jump record attempt also planned
There will also be an attempt at breaking the triple jump world record set by Briton Jonathan Edwards of 18.29m. The BBC commentator’s record was set at the 1995 World Championships at Gothenburg:
We wish all the participants the best of luck!