The Runway to Paris | Mitrevski Set for Olympic Dream

For Chris Mitrevski, an Olympic berth is a relief rather than a surprise. Living three years on the precipice of qualification marked by the constant refreshing of world rankings and chasing points around Europe, the long jumper put an end to his Olympic wait with his sixth and final jump at the Australian Championships.

There is no shortage of athletes who claim that their event is the hardest to master, but Mitrevski just smiles when it comes to the technical complexities of long jump – it is not up for debate in his mind. Would he change it? Not for the world, even if World Athletics implements the proposed “jump zone” to eliminate fouls.

“Everyone was messaging me saying ‘this is perfect for you’ because I have a history of not being able to touch the board. As good as it would be for me maybe, I don’t want that to happen because it takes the skill out of long jump. You have got to hit the board and hit it in a good position, that’s what makes long jump what it is,” Mitrevski says.

Standing at the top of the runway with the Australian title sewn up in 8.07m (+0.9) after five attempts earlier this month, the 27-year-old proceeded to produce the jump of his life on his final attempt – leaping to 8.32m (-0.2) to eclipse the 8.27m Olympic qualifying standard.

Announced for Paris 2024 by the Australian Olympic Committee just hours later, one jump that encapsulated years of frustration-fueled persistence had turned his dream into reality.

“I knew I hit it pretty well but I didn’t realise until I looked to the side, you always try and line it up with the mark and I had a feeling it was going to be close. When I heard the 8.32 there was a wave of emotions, I had to fight back a few tears there,” Mitrevski says.

“I was just happy that I had won but to land at 8.32m and realise I’m going to be an Olympian is surreal, it’s why I do the sport. I’ve been to a few World Championships now but at the end of the day, I just want to be an Olympian.”

Piling on 11cm to his career-best, Mitrevski turned the tables on his 2022 Australian Championships fortunes where he missed the World Championships standard by one centimetre with a leap of 8.21m – forced to chase world ranking points across Europe to land in the top-32 quota for the second consecutive year after narrowly missing qualification for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

With World Championships appearances under his belt in 2022 and 2023, and holding the seventh farthest jump in the world since the Olympic qualifying window opened on July 1, 2023 Mitrevski can now plan to make an immediate impact at sport’s pinnacle event.

“The weird thing with long jump is that most people that have jumped the qualifying distance could medal, it’s just about who shows up on the day and who can actually deliver. I’m going to give myself every shot to get on that podium and I think I can,” Mitrevski says.

“I remember watching the Athens Olympics as a kid, Beijing, London… It’s all I have ever wanted to do.”

Now coached by Alex Stewart after transitioning from longtime coach John Boas after his 2023 campaign, Mitrevski strikes a genuine appreciation for those who have contributed to his success to date while also looking forward to the uncharted territory that awaits.

“After the World Championships I had a think about what’s best for me, obviously doing a lot of overseas competitions. I decided to move to Alex [Stewart] and I was pretty nervous to tell John [Boas] but he made it so easy, he’s one of the best people in athletics – I will say that forever,” Mitrevski says.

“I drove him home after it and he gave me a big hug, he’s always there for me and very supportive. I pop by the track and say hi to him all the time, we’re still very close.”

Mitrevski was one of 14 Australian athletes selected for the 2024 Olympic Games at the conclusion of the Chemist Warehouse Australian Championships, with more information available HERE.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted 30/4/2024