Triple Jump Olympic Champion Injured During Competition At Ostrava

By Todd Grasley of DyeStat

Photo by Tim Healy

Less than 100 days out from the scheduled Tokyo Olympic Games, Christian Taylor and his quest for a third straight Olympic triple jump title has been dealt a major setback. Wednesday in Ostrava at the Golden Spike meet, Taylor ruptured his Achilles' tendon after take off.

"I spent quite some time trying to find the right words, but I am giving up," Taylor's fiance' and Austrian hurdler Beate Schrott posted on her Instagram. "I don’t have words for this situation. It’s heartbreaking. Really."

Taylor, who owns the second-best mark ever with his leap of 59-8.75 (18.21m) was knocking on history's doorstep. Great Britan's Jonathan Edwards' record of 60-0.25 (18.29m) was in jeopardy.

Schrott went onto say: "He already underwent surgery which went well and that doctors and therapists are taking very good care of him."

With Taylor most likely out of Tokyo, some of the spotlight will fall to former University of Florida teammate Will Claye, who finished as the silver medalist behind him in the last two Olympics.

"Will is now the favorite, but it’s the Olympics, there are no certainties," NBC analyst and fellow Olympian Ato Boldon said.

Fellow athletes from around the world have shown their support for Taylor, who is well respected both on and off the track.

For Schrott, she knows the strength of her fiancee'. She is encouraging everyone to pray and send lots of positive energy his way.

"Christian is putting all his faith in God," she added. "I know he’ll get through this. He will fight his way back. He’ll come out of this situation not smelling like smoke, but it’s not easy and he sure can use some prayers."