By Tamica Garnett

AFTER clearing a best jump of 6.81m, yesterday, Guyana’s national record-holder Troy Doris finished with the sixth best jump of the day in the men’s triple jump event at the Rio Olympics and will now be in the final today when the competition continues at 08:50hrs. This makes Doris the only athlete on Guyana’s six-man team to have made it into a final at this year’s Olympics. Noting how thrilled he was, the 27-year-old yesterday statted that it was “time to make history” following his performance in the event.
“I’m excited to finally be an Olympic finalist. Time to make history,” Doris stated, in a social media video, shortly after completing his jump.
On site to witness the historical moment was former Guyanese Olympian and Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Aliann Pompey, who now works as overseas ambassador for the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG).
Speaking with Chronicle Sport, an ecstatic Pompey remarked what a proud moment it was to see a Guyanese make it that far at the esteemed Olympic Games. She’s even keeping her fingers crossed for perhaps a podium position performance when Doris gets to the pit today.
“It was amazing to witness. Each jump got better as the rounds went on,” stated Pompey.
“On the outside he seemed to hold his composure. He was consistent when his competitors weren’t. In most cases, consistency is key.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he medals. Anything can happen, and he’s in great physical and mental position to do it. We’re all prepared with our flags for tomorrow. We’ll witness history being made. What a tremendous time to be Guyanese,” Pompey said.
Doris is one of only 12 athletes who made it through to the final, from the 39 athletes who took part in yesterday’s jump. Current world number one, USA’s Christian Taylor registered the best jump of the day after flying across 17.24m.
Doris has a personal-best jump of 17.18m, in an event where the Olympic record stands at 18.09m and the world record is 18.29m. That 17.18m jump, which is also Guyana’s national record, has Doris currently ranked seventh in the world.
Also commenting on Doris’ accomplishment yesterday was president of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson, who was also ecstatic that Doris was living up to initial hopes.
“From day one I kept stressing that Troy Doris is our best medal prospect based on results that we’ve been seeing. I am always elated when our athletes do well especially when they put in the efforts; he’s our first athlete in a long time who would have made it to the final.
“He’s on the right track, he’s taken us to a point we haven’t gone before in recent history and now it’s for us to throw all of our support behind him,” Hutson told Chronicle Sport.