Chouhal pips Olympic medallist James Beckford to take silver at World Masters

Rachid Chouhal upstaged Olympic medallist James Beckford to win a silver medal in the long jump event in Tampere, Finland.

Competing in the Masters Over 45 category, Chouhal had a best leap of 6.57 metres to finish just one centimetre behind American Lee Adkins who took the gold medal with a best jump of 6.58m.

Beckford, who won a silver medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and also has two second-placings in the World Championships, had to settle with the bronze medal even though he equalled Chouhal’s distance of 6.57 but the Maltese athlete was handed the second placing as he achieved a second best jump which was better than Beckford’s.

Chouhal’s effort was a new national record in the Over 45 category as his effort was 16 centimetres longer than his previous best of 6.34 achieved in Braga earlier this year.

“World Masters Athletics Championships, M45 long jump final, lot of rain and pain caused during my 100m final, but I am so happy to get silver in my last jump 6.57m, 1cm away from gold,” Chouhal wrote on his facebook page.

“It was a great pleasure to compete with top athletes in the world, special thanks to my friend Jc Beckford for his support during competition, my wife, my Club Rush Athletic Club, BeActive – SportMalta, National Sport School, Malta, MOC and Athletics Malta, and all my friends.”