The IAAF World Championships in Athletics is taking place in Beijing this year. (Photo : Wikimedia)
Chinese teenage athlete Wang Jianan has won China its first-ever world long jump medal at the 2015 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in Athletics on Tuesday.
Wang, who just turned 19 on Thursday, won the bronze medal with a leap of 8.18 meters, which is officially China's best performance in men's long jump at the IAAF World Championships.
"I did not realize it will be my birthday until yesterday. I have been concentrated on training for the world championships. I was quite steady today," Wang said, shortly after his winning jump.
Wang was not the one expected to take home a medal for the Chinese team.
2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics silver medalist Li Jinzhe was expected to perform much better. Li only finished fifth place with 8.10 meters.
"I used 90 percent of my energy on my first attempt but it went bad. It was a blow to me," said Li. "I don't know what happened. Maybe it is fate that I can't win a medal."
Li's first attempt only recorded 7.69 meters.
Chinese athlete Gao Xinglong placed fourth with 8.14 meters.
Olympic and European champion Greg Rutherford took home the gold in the long jump event. This was the first time for the British athlete, who competed in five world championships overall, to take home a long jump title after he set an unbeatable lead of 8.41 meters in his fourth attempt.
"European champion, Olympic champion and now world champion. It is unbelievable. It is the most incredible thing. I have been dreaming of this day for a long time. I cannot believe I have done this," said Rutherford.
Australian Fabrice Lapierre finished second with 8.24 meters.
Defending champion Aleksandr Menkov from Russia placed sixth.
One of the favorites to take home a medal, American Jeff Henderson, reportedly shed tears after he failed to qualify for the last three rounds.
