The long jump world record holder since 1991, the American Mike Powell, considers the Cuban Juan Miguel Echevarría capable of overcoming the nine-meter barrier, several media today said.

"I think that Juan Miguel is looking for that record and I see him with the possibility of achieving it because he is a tall, fast athlete and able to go far in the discipline," said Powell, who still owns the 8.95 m mark.

The now 56-year-old coach considered that Echevarría may be the favorite to win the gold medal next year at the Tokyo Olympics, however he did not rule out other athletes and meant that 'the long jump competition is very open.

"It is very difficult to predict, perhaps it is the Cuban jumper, as in the Doha World Cup in which he finished third, or the Jamaican Tajay Gayle for the final champion of that competition with 8.69 m," he explained.