Anatoliy Ryapolov in the boys' Long Jump at the IAAF World Youth Championships 2013 (© Getty Images)
Anatoliy Ryapolov leapt to a gold medal-winning 7.79m and Russia’s first gold medal in the history of this event in these championships, living up to the heavy expectations of being the favourite in the countdown to the final.
The 16-year-old, who registered a national youth record of 7.90m in his homeland last month, executed a consistent series of jumps including 7.71m, 7.65m and 7.63m en route to claiming victory – each of his four valid attempts superior to any other jumps in the final.
China’s Fang Yaoqing took the silver medal with a 7.53m leap to capture his nation’s third medal in the 14-year history of this championship, following Shang Yapeng’s gold medal performance in Bydgoszcz 1999 and Lin Qing’s win in Lille two years ago.
Taking the bronze medal and replicating the third-place finish of London 2012 Olympic champion Christian Taylor from Ostrava 2007, was the USA’s Isaiah Moore who also jumped 7.53m for a personal best. Fang took the silver medal on count-back by virtue of a 7.40m leap.
Further adrift in fourth, Japan’s Shuhei Matsuoka leapt a 7.40m lifetime best, while China’s Zhong Peifeng placed fifth with 7.34m.
