There is such a sport as hop, step and jump although it is now called the triple jump. It may sound something you did at kindie but it is a real sport with real rules and has been in the Olympics since the modern revival.

The Chinese record still stands at 17.34m. But that was set back in the World Cup in Rome in 1981 by Zou Zhenxian. It won a silver medal. Zou Zhenxian is a little worried that a 53-year-old man still holds the Chinese record when the current world record stands at nearly a meter longer, 18.29m, set by Briton Jonathan Edwards in 1995.

Since 1997, Zou Zhenxian has organized eight tournaments to give athletes in China a chance to surpass his mark but it has not happened.

Zou Zhenxian said, ‘Now I am not feeling comfortable with my record,” Zou said. “I can’t wait to see someone beat the record this time in Guizhou and leave me with a beautiful memory.’

After several years of sub-par performances, which saw few jumpers even surpass the 17m mark, last year’s tournament in Shandong saw the closest competition yet, as 20-year-old local Zhong Weimin jumped 17.27m to win.

Unfortunately, Zhong’s form has dropped dramatically since the end of last year and he now even struggles to reach 16m.

China is allowed to send three athletes to the event as long as all of them jump more than 17.10m within two years of the Games.

So far Gu, who jumped 17.11m in 2006, and Zhong have qualified, leaving everyone else to compete for the final spot.

The picture shows China’s Huang Qiuyan sailing into the finals of the women’s triple jump in the world championships in Helsinki
Source: China Daily