Long Jump, Women

A slight favorite was the United States’ Brittney Reese who had won gold in the event at London 2012 and silver at Rio 2016. She was a four-time World Champion, winning in 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2017, but she was expected to be challenged by German Malaika Mihambo, the 2019 World Champion and 2018 European Champion.

The 2016 Rio bronze medalist and 2018 World Indoor Champion Serbian Ivana Španović led the qualifying round with 7.00, in front of Mihambo with 6.98, Reese at 6.86 and 21-year-old Tara Davis with 6.85.

The opening round lead in the final was taken by Nigeria’s Esa Brume, who leapt 6.97, a mark that would not be bettered until the final round. In round three Reese matched that and her 6.81 second round mark put her into the lead. Mihambo stood third after three rounds with 6.95 from round two.

In round five Reese recorded 6.95 which would be important for the medals, and she still held the lead going into the final round. In that round Mihambo barely touched the plasticine but recorded 7.00 metres which would bring her the gold medal. Brume then recorded 6.90, her second-best mark, but it was less than Reese’s 6.95 from round five, giving Reese silver and Brume bronze. Španović placed fourth after being in third position at the end of round two, while Davis placed sixth with a best jump of 6.84 in fourth round.

Mihambo would continue to be a dominant long jumper over the next few years winning the 2022 World Championships and 2024 European Championships. She added silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics and the 2025 World Championships. Reese had had a long, superb career, winning eight global gold medals and having first competed at the Worlds in 2007, but Tokyo 2020 would be her swan song.