Team GB athlete reveals he is back to his full time job on Friday – just days after finishing fifth at the Olympics

A Team GB athlete is set to return to his regular job just days after finishing fifth in the long jump finals at the Paris Olympics.

Jacob Fincham-Dukes had a commendable performance in the weekend qualifiers that secured his spot in the finals at Stade de France on Tuesday evening.

The 27-year-old achieved an impressive jump of 8.14 meters, only six centimeters shy of his personal record, earning fifth place, while Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou made history as the first athlete to clinch back-to-back long jump titles in the 21st century.

Despite his remarkable performance in Paris, Fincham-Dukes acknowledged that he had other concerns during his time in the French capital.

‘I truly hope I’ve done justice to my capabilities because I work full-time, and I’ll be back at work on Friday,’ Fincham-Dukes expressed to the BBC.

Jacob Fincham-Dukes shared that he was already contemplating his return to work immediately after the final.

The 27-year-old recorded a jump of 8.14m in the long jump final, securing an impressive fifth position.

The athlete hailing from Harrogate was merely six centimeters shy of his personal best at Stade de France.

‘So I’m dealing with a lot of extra pressure that others may not have to,’ he said.

‘I’ve performed extraordinarily well this year—fourth at the Europeans and fifth at the Olympics.’

‘I wasn’t expected to finish fifth based on rankings, so I feel a sense of pride in my achievements.’

Fincham-Dukes, who resides in Texas, works in health and safety compliance at ISN. In an interview with his employer, he provided insights into the demanding nature of his training regimen alongside his job.

‘I train 7-8 times weekly,’ said Fincham-Dukes.

‘My days begin at 5 AM with a gym session, followed by a work shift, and then another training session. My typical schedule involves weight training in the mornings and practice sessions later, alongside a recovery stretching routine every Wednesday.’

‘The day before my events, I engage in a quick warm-up to mentally and physically prepare myself, visualizing my performance and setting specific goals.’

Prior to the Games, Fincham-Dukes expressed that his primary aim was to reach the final on Tuesday.

Before the Games, Fincham-Dukes mentioned that his ‘main goal’ was to secure a spot in the final, highlighting how significant it was for him to represent Team GB.

‘Having the chance to represent my country on such a monumental platform is an extraordinary and cherished opportunity,’ Fincham-Dukes remarked, ‘It truly is the pinnacle of the sport.’

Team GB experienced a varied evening in athletics on Tuesday, with Josh Kerr narrowly missing gold in the men’s 1,500m final against surprise victor Cole Hocker from the USA.

Both Daryll Neita and Dina Asher-Smith narrowly missed medaling in the 200m final that followed, coming heartbreakingly close to third but ultimately ending up empty-handed amid a strong performance from gold medalist Gabrielle Thomas, runner-up Julien Alfred, and bronze medalist Brittany Brown of the USA.