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MIDDLESBROUGH'S Chris Tomlinson ended his major Games medal drought in style on Saturday night, then vowed to finally fill the spikes of Britain's former greats.

The 26-year-old long jumper lived up to his potential at the World Indoor Championships in Valencia.

He came within two centimetres of gold and walking away with silver following an opening round leap of 8.06m.

Tomlinson had looked set to top the podium but that honour went to former South Africa ballroom dancing champion Godfrey Khotso, who registered a season's best 8.08m in round five.

Tomlinson admits he has failed to produce the goods on the international stage since initially breaking Lynn Davies' 34-yearold British record in 2002. But he believes silver signals the beginning of great things to come.

"I have always knocked on the door at the top level and now I've got the world silver medal," he said after collecting a $20,000 cheque as well as his medal.

"There are some big boots to fill from Linford Christie to Colin Jackson and Steve Backley but I certainly believe I'm among a group of athletes that can finally do that.

"The success of those guys has made it difficult as there is now a gold-ornothing culture but we have just got to train hard and two more centimetres would have given me gold.

"I think this is the breakthrough.

I have got the thirdlongest jump in the world, I have broken the British record and got a world silver and nearly got the gold, so this is it.

"It is nice to come and win my first championship medal. Obviously gold would have been better and I'm sure everyone watching thought I could have got the gold.

"I've made a load of championship finals and have been fifth and sixth in a lot of them and have often performed well without taking it on to win a medal.

"That has created some demons in my mind but now I have got my first global medal and I really feel I can build on that."

Tomlinson's failures reached breaking point last summer when he failed to qualify for the final of the World Championships in a season that had seen him increase his own British record to 8.29m.

But after making a fresh start in London last summer, the Newham and Essex Beagle looked back to his best inside the Luis Puig velodrome.

He was competing in a field that included Saudi Arabia's Mohamed Salman Al Khuwalidi and Jamaica's world and Olympic silver medallist James Beckford. Despite notable absentees, including World champion Irving Saladino and European gold medallist Andrew Howe, Tomlinson refused to belittle his achievement.

"I have shown I can perform well on the world stage," he added.

"If you look at the long jumpers on show the best in the world were here apart from Irving Saladino, who has been injured.

"People may turn around and say where was Andrew Howe?

"Well Andrew Howe wasn't here because he has been jumping rubbish all year and opted not to come as he knew he wouldn't do anything.

"So I don't want people turning round and saying Chris got an easy medal as you have to come out here and you have to perform."

There was more good news for Tomlinson after his fiancee told him he could come home.

Lucia Rovardi, who plays the lead female role in the West End musical Buddy Holly, had told him not to bother returning to their Hampstead flat if he failed to produce the goods in Spain.

But Tomlinson revealed their summer wedding is now back on, saying: "I can go home!

"I spoke to Lucia briefly on the night but she had to go on stage.

But she told me I could come back."

* Norwich Union is the team behind UK Athletics and are proud to support the Norwich Union GB and NI team. To play your part for athletics in your area visit www.joinourteam.com

9:17am Monday 10th March 2008

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