Sportsround meets Chris Tomlinson

Chris Tomlinson holds the British long jump record at a whopping 8.27 metres. That's almost as long as a London bus!

But last year he broke a toe, suffered a groin strain and a knee injury.

Britain's longest leaper is back to full fitness now, and will be in action in Gateshead Grand Prix.

He went back to his old primary school to teach them some tips about jumping.

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What's it been like coming back to school?

Coming back to school was brilliant. It's been about 12 years since I've been back and seen Mr Smith (a teacher).

It's really fun to be back as an Olympic athlete. It's so much smaller than I remember it! (Chris is now 1.96m tall - much taller than he was when he was a pupil!)

What tips do you have for anyone who wants to try the long jump?

The main thing is to enjoy jumping - it's very important! Try and enjoy it as much as you can.

It's also very important for kids to keep up with sprinting and keep playing football and other sports like rugby so they can develop their co-ordination.

As long as they keep doing that and then maybe focus on the sport (long jumping) when they get into their teens.

How important is it for kids to get into sport young?

I think it's very important for kids to be involved in sport at a young age. If you get them young you can teach them the techniques - which then become much easier when you get older.

One of my biggest weaknesses was I didn't focus on the long jump until I was 17, so I've struggled to learn the fundamental basics.

I first did my long jump when I was at cubs at the age of 10. But I just played around with it and I did lots of other sports - football, rugby, tennis, cricket, golf, - you name it, I did it.

It wasn't until I was 17 years old when I won the AAA championships that I started to represent Great Britain and take it seriously.

What made you choose long jump?

It was basically because I couldn't get in the team for triple jump, and I wasn't the fastest runner.

But for some reason I could manage the long jump further than other people - so it seemed the decision to take.

I always dreamed of competing for my country and I got that opportunity long jumping so I've never really looked back from there.

What do you love about long jumping?

The thing I love about long jump the most is it's very close to flying - I just run as fast as I can and I jump and I try and stay in the air as long as I can.

You were badly injured last year - what are your hopes for the rest of 2006?

Unfortunately 2005 didn't go the way I wanted it to. After 2004 and finishing fifth in the Olympic games I'd really hoped to build on that and move up the world rankings.

But injury set me back and now it's about overcoming those problems. Hopefully I'll jump a personal best and move from fifth place in the world to the top.

Chris will be taking part in the Gateshead Grand Prix which starts on 11 June