USA’s Christian Taylor, Will Claye Finish 1-2 Again In Olympic Triple Jump

Christian Taylor and Will Claye of Team USA won gold and silver respectively on Tuesday for the second consecutive Olympics for their performance in the men’s triple jump in Rio.

USA’s Christian Taylor, Will Claye Finish 1-2 Again In Olympic Triple Jump

Taylor, 26, claimed gold with a season-best jump of 17.86 meters (58 feet 7 ¼ inches) on his first attempt in the six-jump final round. (The highest mark of an athlete’s six jumps is considered the winning distance). Claye, 25, finished with a personal-best 17.76 meters (58-3¼), also on his first attempt.

Dong Bin of China took bronze, his country’s first-ever medal in the event, with a leap of 57-8 ¼.

Taylor and Claye proudly lifted the U.S. flag, beaming as they reveled in their repeat gold and silver medal victories from the London 2012 Games.

No nation had gone 1-2 in straight Olympic men’s triple jump competitions since the United States in 1900 and 1904, when Meyer Prinstein won

Some observers on Tuesday complained that the triple jump final was held in the early-morning hours rather than in prime time.

The American duo didn’t seem too bothered by that, however, given their win. Claye especially had an additional reason to celebrate, since he proposed to his girlfriend, fellow U.S. track athlete Queen Harrison, after his final leap, and she said yes.

Harrison, 27, proudly flaunted her ring, which was also photographed, to cap off one of the greatest highlights of Day 11 of the Rio Games.

Harrison, who competed in the 400-meter hurdles in the Beijing 2008 Games, failed to qualify for the 100-meter hurdles in Rio, but was still in the stands Tuesday to support Claye. She also won the gold in the 100-meter hurdles at the 2015 Pan American Championships.

Claye’s marriage proposal follows those of several other Olympians thus far this year, including Chinese divers Qin Kai and He Zi, and Olympic volunteer Marjorie Enya, who proposed to her girlfriend, Brazilian rugby player Isadora Cerullo, on Day 3 following the conclusion of the medal ceremony for rugby. Gay British track and field Olympian Tom Bosworth also proposed to his boyfriend Harry Dineley by the beach in Rio on Monday.

Clay has been one of Taylor’s top opponents for years, competing against him while they both attended the University of Florida as well as on Team USA.

Taylor was aiming to beat the world-record 18.29-meter jump. He joined long jumper Jeff Henderson as Americans to win another gold medal at Olympic Stadium.

Claye told NBC Sports of the engagement:

“Today was the day. I just knew today was going to be the best day of my life. When I woke up, I was like ‘I’m going to be engaged today. I’m going to propose to my best friend.’ She’s the one for me. I had to do it today. I felt like it was a special day. She was supposed to be here running but I think she’s a little bit happier that she’s here just to watch and to be my fiancee now.”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 16: Silver medalist Will Claye of the United States (L) and gold medalist Christian Taylor of the United States pose during the medal ceremony for the Men’s Triple Jump Final on Day 11 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 16, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena