Triple Jump Champion Improvising In Order To Remain Consistent With Training

By Todd Grasley for DyeStat

Christian Taylor's mission to three-peat as Olympic triple jump champion is going to have to wait.

The announcement this week by the International Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee to delay the Tokyo Games to 2021 due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has forced athetes at the highest level of track and field to recalibrate.

“Training has been modified heavily,” Taylor said. “I no longer have a track or sandpit to train on so that is a big hit to preparation. My coach has found great ways to improvise over the last few weeks, but training is very different.”

Tracks, soccer fields, weight rooms and beaches that Taylor might have frequented before in Jacksonville, Fla., with coach Rana Reider are closed.

Former venues have been replaced the past two weeks with garages, living rooms and backyards. 

“We will all do what we can until it is safe to go back to our normal training environments,” Taylor said.

Although the 2020 season has already been severely curtailed and may end up a total loss, Taylor believes the IOC made the right call to postpone the Games and is glad the decision was not dragged into April.

“The health and safety of everyone is the most important concern,” he added. “The Olympic Games will be great next year. It has not been announced that there will not be competitions this year (Diamond League or others) so I won't waste energy thinking about that. I wish to remain positive and hope for the best.”

Taylor, who turns 30 in June, wasn’t planning to retire anytime soon, so the timeline of events for 2021 and the next several years wasn’t a concern of his.

“The strain and pressures are different depending on where you are in life but at the end of the day, it's all about mindset,” Taylor said. “How you approach the challenge. Whoever approaches it with the right attitude is most likely to walk away with the best result.”

Not only is Taylor motivated to pursue a third gold medal, he is also working toward the world record that has eluded him so far. Taylor set the American record of 59-9 (18.21m) at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing and is second all-time behind Jonathan Edwards of Great Britain, who jumped 60-0.25 (18.29m) in 1995.

“I love what I do and will continue competing as long as that fire burns,” Taylor said.