Australia’s Liam Adcock produced a jaw-dropping performance in the men’s long jump at the Rome Diamond League, soaring to a personal best of 8.34 metres in the final round to claim victory and tie the world lead for 2025.
The men’s long jump contest had already been bubbling with intensity. At one point, five athletes had cleared the eight-metre mark a clear sign of the depth and quality on show.
Reigning Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece held the lead with 8.10m, followed closely by Italy’s Mattia Furlani and Adcock, both sitting at 8.07m.
With the home crowd at the Stadio Olimpico on its feet, 19-year-old Furlani ignited Italian hopes with a brilliant 8.13m leap in the Final 3 round, momentarily taking the lead and sparking wild celebrations in the stands.
On the very last jump of the competition ,Liam Adcock , calm and focused sprinted down the runway and unleashed the best leap of his life. His 8.34m effort stunned the crowd into silence before applause swept across the stadium. The jump not only snatched victory from Furlani but also matched the best mark in the world this season. In celebration, the Australian executed a series of backflips on the infield, adding flair to a night of elite competition.
“That was everything I had,” Adcock said post-competition. “To do that with the last jump, in a stadium like this, it’s something I’ll never forget.”
Furlani, who had looked poised to win in front of his home crowd, finished second with 8.13m, while Tentoglou settled for third despite his earlier 8.10m lead.
