ESPNAn American college track athlete has gone viral after he sensationally leaped across the finish line to bag a victory during a 400m hurdle event.
Infinite Tucker – who incidentally has a name that just makes him sound like an incredible athlete – was going into the final straight when he was right up beside his competitor, Texas A&M teammate Robert Grant.
Just as it looked like Grant was going to overtake his colleague and grab the win, Tucker spontaneously dived across the finish line in a desperate bid to get first place.
The nail-bitingly close race took place at this year’s SEC Track and Field Championships in Arkansas this weekend, and Tucker certainly brought the excitement.
Although, having watched the clip a good five times, I’m not entirely sure Tucker even gave himself that much advantage. If anything, he slows himself down as his legs stop moving when he prepares to take the ultimate leap.
But, it has to be said – the fella has earned some serious respect for his lack of personal regard when hurling himself forward in the name of his team. And can you imagine if he’d taken the leap of faith and it hadn’t paid off? He took a risk, and fair play to him for doing so.
ESPNSpeaking to ESPN after his momentous victory, Tucker said:
Look, I closed my eyes after hurdle 10.
I opened it, saw my Ma at the finish, and I jumped to give her a hug – that’s all it is.
I just gave it my all and I felt like diving to the finish was like me using my whole body so I felt like I gave it my all that race.
We’re not entirely sure his ma would have been too pleased about him leaping in the air with his eyes shut and potentially breaking every rib on the way down.
Comments from Infinite Tucker on his diving victory in the SEC 400m hurdles. pic.twitter.com/PhCOb2ozzO
— Texas A&M Track and Field (@aggietrk) May 12, 2019
It would seem Tucker’s runner up, Grant, wasn’t too pleased with his teammate’s iconic finish as he declined to comment.
He said:
If I say what I thought on this camera, microphone right now, Coach Henry would kick me off the team.
Fortunately for him, we can read between the lines on that one, and surmise he won’t be picking up Tucker’s tactics anytime soon.
Last year, Tucker took part in the same race and came second, so it’s no wonder he was so keen to over that finish line first. Fair play, fella.
If you have a story you want to tell send it to UNILAD via [email protected].
Emma Rosemurgey is an NCTJ trained Journalist who started her career by producing The Royal Rosemurgey newspaper in 2004, which kept her family up to date with the goings on of her sleepy north east village. She graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in Preston and started her career in regional newspapers before joining Tyla (formerly Pretty 52) in 2017, and progressing onto UNILAD in 2019.