Not only did Americans place first and second in the triple jump at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London -- Christian Taylor and Will Claye turned the event into something not too different from their practices at the University of Florida.
Americans Christian Taylor, Will Claye Win Gold And Silver In Men’s Triple Jump
Taylor leaped 17.81 meters on his fourth jump, a new best in 2012, and held on to the lead as competitors made a run at him, none getting closer than Claye’s 17.62 meters. When Claye took his sixth and final jump, gold and silver were assured for the Americans -- the only question was whether Claye would take gold from his former Gators teammate, and he answered it by jumping just 16.66 meters.
The gold is the first medal of Taylor’s Olympic career, while Claye’s silver is his second medal at the 2012 Olympics, as he previously won bronze in the long jump. Greece’s Fabrizio Donato took bronze with a jump of 17.48 meters.
The gold-silver double was the second in as many days for Americans on the track. Aries Merritt and Jason Richardson went 1-2 in the 110m hurdles on Wednesday.
For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation’s London 2012 Olympics hub. For more on Olympic athletics, follow the 2012 Olympic athletics section.
See More:
