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| Born | (1972-06-26) 26 June 1972 (age 52) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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, 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. 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.
Of New Zealand Māori descent, Taurima affiliates to the Ngāti Kahungunu iwi.
In 2014, his daughter, Indie Rose, died from leukemia at the age of two years old.
References
- Epstein, Rafael (14 August 2000). "Training regime of cigarettes, pizza and late nights". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 29 May 2005.
- ^ 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
- McCurdy, Diana (30 September 2000). "Aussie crowd-pleaser proud of Kiwi heritage". The Press.
External links
 | This biographical article relating to Australian athletics is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |
- 1972 births
- Living people
- Australian male long jumpers
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1994 Commonwealth Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Olympic athletes for Australia
- Australian people of Māori descent
- New Zealand Māori sportspeople
- Australian Institute of Sport track and field athletes
- Sportspeople from the Gold Coast, Queensland
- Athletes from Queensland
- Ngāti Kahungunu people
- Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Olympic silver medalists for Australia
- Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics
- Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Australia
- Medallists at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
- Sportsmen from Queensland
- Australian Athletics Championships winners
- Australian athletics biography stubs