Taylor leads US to take gold in triple jump
LONDON, Aug 9 (Reuters) - World champion Christian Taylor produced this year's biggest jump to take gold in the men's triple jump in an American one-two at the London Olympic Games on Thursday.
Taylor's season's best mark of 17.81 metres was enough to finish ahead of U.S. compatriot Will Claye, who took silver with a jump of 17.62 metres. Italy's European champion Fabrizio Donato, 35, finished in bronze with a jump of 17.48 metres.
Taylor, already the leading jumper in the world this year with a mark of 17.63 set in June, missed his first t wo jumps and only landed three all night. His fourth attempt was the one that mattered, though, taking him above Claye who had been leading.
The 22-year-old had finished second behind 21-year-old Claye at this year's world indoor championships and after injuries to other contenders the Olympic gold medal was only ever likely to go to one of the t wo Americans.
Britain's injuryhit former world triple jump champion Phillips Ido- wu failed to make the final and Frenchman Teddy Tamgho, the third man on the all-time list, pulled out of the Games in June with a foot problem.
Leevan Sands of the Bahamas, bronze medallist four years ago in Beijing, was forced to retire after injuring his knee on his fourth
attempt. The 30year-old began the final with a strapped knee but it gave way during a jump and he was stretchered out of the sand. The silver for Claye was his second medal of the Games after winning bronze in the men's long jump final.