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Mitchell Watt of Australia poses during the adidas 2012 Australian Olympic Games competitor uniform launch at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre on March 28, 2012 in Sydney, Australia.
Mitchell Watt of Australia poses during the adidas 2012 Australian Olympic Games competitor uniform launch at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre on March 28, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Ryan Pierse - Getty Images
Athletics

Mitch Watt takes silver in jump

by Michael Gleeson
5th Aug 2012 12:47 PM

THE ripples from the pool splashed across the cycling track and trickled into athletics as Mitch Watt took long jump silver behind ... yes, a Briton.

Watt tonight became the third Australian to win an Olympic silver long jump medal after Jai Taurima in Sydney and Gary Honey in Los Angeles - a leap of 8.16m that, by his standards, left him surprised he won a medal of any colour.

Yet Watt was the first to heap praise on the gold medallist, Briton Greg Rutherford, who won with 8.31m - the shortest distance to win an Olympic medal since Munch in 1972, when gold was worth 8.24m.

"I can't believe I am a silver medallist with 8.16m. It was pretty tough," said Watt, who has a personal best of 8.54m. Even in an injury interrupted season, he has recorded a best effort of 8.28m.

I don't think I had my run-up nailed, and to be honest I don't think I had an 8.30m in me tonight. I don't think I jumped as well as I could have."

Read more at Brisbanetimes.com.au

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