LONDON — Defending champion Christian Taylor is looking well beyond defending his triple jump title at the IAAF World Championships.
The American star leaper is targeting the world record and he’s not afraid of the added pressure it will create when he steps on the run way.
Taylor, who won world championships titles in 2011 and 2015, made light weight of the minimum qualifying mark of 17 metres by leaping 17.15m in his first attempt on Monday.
The 27-year-old will next line up in the triple jump final on Thursday and he’s already thinking about Jonathan Edwards’ long standing world record of 18.29m.
When asked about launching a bid to break the world record, Taylor, who owns a personal record of 18.21m from 2015 replied: “Get the world record? Why not here?
“I made that promise to myself. I hope it is my time. I am staying optimistic. I am chasing that number more than you could ever know.
“(But) People don’t realise that before a medal or a world record, you have to qualify. That is the most difficult and the first step. I need to stay calm.”
Taylor, who won Olympic triple titles in 2012 and 2016, will take on fellow countrymen Chris Benard and Will Claye, along with Cuban pair Cristian Napoles and Andy Diaz.
Nelson Evora of Portugal, the 2008 Olympic champion and 2007 world champion, will also feature in the final of the event.
