Andrew Howe to rock Gothenburg and break some hearts

By John Bagratuni Aug 7, 2006, 20:32 GMT

Gothenburg, Sweden - Home fans may be watching Carolina Kluft's attempt for the European heptathlon title on Tuesday, but some girls in the stands may only have eyes for long jumper Andrew Howe.

The 21-year-old appears to be the hottest man in athletics, and being the drummer in a crossover rock band only further enhances his cool image.

'Hi Andrew, I'm Cristina, I was in Grosetto, I did triple jump, and I want to say: you are beautiful. kiss,' is just one entry from an adoring fan on his website.

His origin is also unusual. Born in Los Angeles of a German father and US mother, Howe is competing for Italy because his step brother's father is Italian and he has lived there since 1989.

For now at least, Howe wants to be an idol only in his sport.

He is the top favourite in the long-jump with a career-best and season-leading 8.41, unbeaten by a European since 2004 and the junior world champion. He gave another indication of his form in Monday's qualifying, which he dominated with an 8.33m jump.

'Mamma Mia! 8.33m in the qualification is just great. I will do (in the final) what my mother always tells me: 'go for broke,'' he said.

He earlier said: 'Everything I have done so far this season counts for nothing now. Gothenburg is what matters and winning a medal. My objective is to be number one, to leap onto the podium if you like.'

Howe is also a fast sprinter with a European junior 200m record at 20.28 seconds. He ran the 100m in 10.48 aged 16.

No wonder he has already been compared to living legend Carl Lewis, who famously got four gold medals at the 1984 Olympics - in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and long jump - and won four Olympic titles overall in the long jump.

In that respect it is only fitting that Howe in fact visited the great Lewis last December in California and has adjusted his technique to that of Lewis, highlighted by a sprint-like approach run.

'Carl is my model. My approach is now based on a very fast run-up, like Carl's, and instead of a hang I now do a two and a half hitch- kick,' he said. 'I asked him a few questions, but I got the main hints from watching him on tapes.'

Howe has raised his personal best in each competition this year as he fully concentrates on the long jump in 2006. That is due to the experience of 2005, when he sustained a hamstring injury which kept him out of the worlds.

'I didn't want the problems I had last year,' he said.

His mother Rene Felton Besozzi, a former hurdler who brought him to the sport and who is now his physiotherapist, added: 'He was getting injured because he was growing too strong for his body. They were growing problems. He was too fast, too soon.'

The concentration on sport has also led to the postponement of the debut album by the band he plays in - Craving.

'Our debut album should have been out by now but I've had to postpone recording it because of training and preparations for Gothenburg. The rest of the guys understand my situation, or at least I think they do,' he quipped recently.

A gold-selling album may be too much to ask, but Howe could very well have a gold medal on Tuesday - with much more greatness to follow.

Lewis believes that Howe can be the first man to leap more than 9 metres and former British runner Steve Cram named Howe 'a future Olympic champion' in a Gothenburg column for the BBC.