Rare gold for Portugal as Evora wins men's triple jump

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — Nelson Evora added the Olympic title to his world crown when he won the men's triple jump here on Thursday, handing Portugal its first Olympic gold medal in 12 years.

Evora, who became a Portuguese citizen in 2002 after previously competing for the Cape Verde Islands, waited until his fourth attempt to take the lead, hop, skip and jumping out to 17.67 metres.

In a nail-biting competition during which the lead and potential podium places chopped and changed in front of a vociferous, hand-clapping crowd, Britain's much-fancied Phillips Idowu claimed silver with a best of 17.62m.

Leevan Sanders of the Bahamas took bronze with 17.59m, while Athens silver medallist Marian Oprea of Romania, who is also the reigning European champion, finished fifth...