Greek long jump record holder Loúis Tsátoumas believes he can challenge again for medals at major international championships, starting with the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships.
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| LouisTsátoumas of Greece. |
Tsátoumas, who holds the Greek outdoor record at 8.66m which he leapt in Kalámata four years ago, the third best European performance ever, won the silver medal at the 2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships but has had a variety of minor injuries in the last two years which has left him struggling to stay with the top men in his event.
He finished 11th at the 2009 World Championships and sixth at last summer’s European Athletics Championships as well as failing to qualify for the final at the 2009 European Athletics Indoor Championships.
“I have not felt this fit since the winter at the start of 2009,” said Tsátoumas, who turns 29 on February 12 and who also won long jump gold medals at the 2001 European Athletics Junior Championships and 2003 European Athletics U23 Championships.
“I’m really looking forward to competing again and being competitive indoors again. Last year I wanted to fight for the medals (at the World Indoor Championships) but my injuries would not let me,” he added.
His last competition was the European Athletics Championships final in Barcelona, when he finished sixth with 8.09m for sixth place after jumping a wind-assisted 8.17m in qualifying, as Germany’s Christian Reif took the gold medal with a 2010 world-leading effort of 8.47m.
Tsátoumas’ first competition is planned to be in Athens on January 29. He holds the Greek indoor record with 8.20m.
The 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships will be held in Paris at the Palais Omnisport Paris-Bercy between March 4-6.