NANJING, China (CMC) – Suriname’s Miquel van Assen claimed Olympic gold in the Men’s triple jump at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China on Monday.
He established himself as the favourite to cop the gold medal when he qualified for the final with a 16.29-metre jump.
However, in Monday’s final a 16.15-metre jump was enough to secure the gold and a place in Suriname’s sports history.
“I am so proud to win a gold medal for Suriname. It was not easy, but I got it,” the 18-year-old athlete said.
His closest rival, Tobia Bocchi (Italy) ended with 16.01 metres to claim silver while Nazim Babayev from Azerbadjan copped bronze.
Miquel van Assen became the country’s second athlete to ever win a gold medal at an Olympic tournament after Anthony Nesty won gold at the Men’s 100-metre butterfly in 53.00 seconds at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South-Korea.
“Today I don’t care about the distance he covered,” Lazaro Calderon, his Cuban coach and trainer told journalists. “The gold medal is more important.”
After winning the event van Assen made a victory lap carrying a Surinamese flag. He is expected to receive a hero’s welcome on his return to Suriname.
(By Ivan Cairo)
