Yesterday, track and field events at the Tokyo Olympics began with the men’s triple jump qualifications. Split into two groups of 16 each, 32 athletes took to the field to secure qualification for the final. After an intense day in searing temperatures, 12 athletes made it to the final to contend for a medal.
One of those athletes was Algerian Yasser Triki. The 24-year-old put in an excellent effort in Group A to make the cut for the triple jump final. However, fans across the world ended up remembering him for a different part of his performance.
Yasser Triki loses part of his gear after triple jump attempt in Tokyo Olympics
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Group B of the triple jump qualifications in Tokyo began at 9:00am local time. In a field of 16 athletes, Triki secured direct qualification after making excellent leaps one after another. In addition, he did not commit a single foul in all three of his attempts.
The 24-year-old recorded a 17.05m jump in his final attempt to secure his place in the final. However, during his final attempt, his shorts suffered a slight tear on landing in the dirt.
Bravo champion Yasser Triki (17.05m) est qualifié en finale du triple saut ! Quel saut je t’aime rabak #JeuxOlympiques pic.twitter.com/218Jr2mnn3
— Milas (@milas7771) August 3, 2021
While many lauded his effort, this moment did not go unnoticed. In fact, one Twitter user mentioned he should wear a new pair of shorts for the final.
Give Algeria’s Yasser Triki new pants for #Olympics triple jump final. #athletics #olympiakisat pic.twitter.com/3iwhHfhqi2
— Paavo Niskala (@NiskalaPaavo) August 3, 2021
With his 17.05m jump, Triki finished third in the group behind Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo and Turkey’s Necati Er. While Er recorded his season best jump of 17.13m, Pichardo recorded a monstrous 17.71m jump to win the group.
READ MORE: WATCH: US Athlete?s Family Goes Bonkers After She Broke the World Record at Tokyo Olympics 2020
Men’s triple jump final to take place on August 5
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The 12 athletes who qualified for the triple jump final will compete for gold on August 5, 11:00am local time. While all 12 athletes posted competitive scores, the competition looks wide open for top honours in the Olympic Stadium.
Among the final 12, only five of them rank in the Top 10. In addition, World No. 1 Christian Taylor missed the Games due to a ruptured achilles tendon just two months prior.
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Triki, the World No. 9, could be in with a chance of bringing a gold medal to Algeria. However, USA’s Will Claye remains the favorite to take top honors in the event. The World No. 2 scored an impressive 17.21 to stake his claim in a competitive field.