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| Born | 26 June 1972 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Jai Desmond Taurima (born 26 June 1972 in Southport, Queensland) is an Australian retired athlete who competed in the long jump.
Despite smoking a packet of cigarettes a day,[1] he won a surprising silver medal at the 2000 Olympics with a personal best jump of 8.49 metres. This was the Oceanic record. Son of Elaine (deceased) and Floyd Taurima, siblings Corrie, and Australian track and field coach Stacey Taurima. His partner is Jennifer Smith.[2][3] He is also known as 'Jumping Jai' or 'Jumping Jai Taurima'.
In addition, Taurima won a silver medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
Since retiring from athletics, Taurima has joined the Australian Federal Police.[4]
Of New Zealand Māori descent, Taurima affiliates to the Ngāti Kahungunu iwi.[5]
In 2014, his daughter, Indie Rose, died from leukemia at the age of two years old.[2]
- ^ Epstein, Rafael (14 August 2000). "Training regime of cigarettes, pizza and late nights". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 29 May 2005.
- ^ a b Reghenzani, Kylie (23 May 2014). "Indie Rose Taurima's short life touched many". Cairns Post.
- ^ Area Outdoor Records - Men - Oceania - IAAF.org
- ^ http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/28/1075088087487.html?from=storyrhs [retrieved 24/9/10]
- ^ McCurdy, Diana (30 September 2000). "Aussie crowd-pleaser proud of Kiwi heritage". The Press.