Ian's Story
Ian Campbell competed in the triple jump at Moscow 1980. The seemingly biased judging of the Russian officials during the final of his event might very well have prevented him becoming Australia’s next Olympic triple jump champion, after Nick Winter at Paris 1924. In the late 1970s, Campbell, from Victoria, had a glittering career on the US college athletics circuit whilst representing Washington State. In 1978, he finished second in his event at the Commonwealth Games at Edmonton, Canada.
By Moscow, he was in top form, having performed excellently in a number of pre-Games meets. He was the top qualifier for the final of the Olympic event. Then trouble struck. He and the world record holder, de Oliveira of Brazil, were the two leading non-Soviet contenders for the event, but they had nine of their combined total of 12 jumps called fouls. Campbell estimated his fourth jump to be at least 17.50 metres, way beyond the Olympic record. This was corroborated by a British television crew. When he emerged from the landing pit, Campbell was anticipating a great reading, but instead he was signalled to have fouled. His fault, according to the officials, was that he dragged his trailing leg on the ground during his ‘step’. To do this and still produce a long distance was impossible.
Whilst Campbell was remonstrating with the officials, trying to get another ruling on the jump, the pit was raked and all evidence of his leap disappeared. His only legal jump of 16.72 metres, which he commenced from well before the take-off board to avoid another foul, enabled him to finish fifth. De Oliveira, who also had a huge leap fouled, won the bronze medal behind two Soviets, with the winner jumping 17.35 metres. Less than two years later Campbell was lost from the sport due to injury.
