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Ronald Hertog eyes further Paralympics success after long jump switch
- Updated: May 26, 2016
Four years after claiming javelin bronze at the London Paralympics, Ronald Hertog will be hoping for further Games success in Rio, but this time in the long jump.
The 27-year-old, who was Netherlands’ flag-bearer at London 2012, dislocated his shoulder in the lead up to the competition but still managed to secure a place on the podium. Following the Games, that injury together with back problems caused the Dutch athlete to consider an event switch and after starting out with jumps of less than six metres, he improved to 7.09m during a year.
Since then, Hertog has gone on to leap a long jump PB of 7.53m and become the Dutch champion, beating two-time world silver medallist Ignisious Gaisah.
“I have been doing able-bodied events for a couple of years now and I think my biggest achievement so far is becoming Dutch champion last year,” said Hertog, who had to have his right leg amputated after being involved in a car accident at the age of 13. “I beat all the able-bodied guys. I did not expect to do it there, but it was a one-time thing I guess. That really put me on the map for other events.”
After claiming the Dutch title, Hertog secured IPC world silver in Doha behind Germany’s Markus Rehm, who leapt a T44 world record of 8.40m. “I think at the end of this year in Rio, my transformation from a javelin thrower to a long jumper is complete,” he told AW.
“I think at the end of this year in Rio, my transformation from a javelin thrower to a long jumper is complete”
Last Friday, Hertog became the first ‘blade jumper’ to compete in the able-bodied competition at the Great CityGames Manchester and leapt 7.00m in a contest won by Olympic champion Greg Rutherford with 8.20m.
The Dutch …
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