updated 6:56 p.m. ET Aug. 26, 2004

ATHENS, Greece - The biggest smile in track and field got a little bigger Thursday night, and the long jump is solidly back in American hands.

Dwight Phillips — the world’s best jumper by leaps and bounds, and maybe the happiest guy in the sport — lived up to his billing with a 28-foot, 2 1/4-inch effort to win the gold medal.

The United States made it an unexpected 1-2 finish when John Moffitt, the NCAA champion at LSU this year, went a personal-best 27-9½ for the silver.

It was a comeback for the Americans, who four years ago in Sydney failed to medal in the event for the first time since the boycotted games in Moscow in 1980.

“The long jump is back,” Moffitt said. “Watch out.”

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Phillips put the competition away with his first jump, falling just a half-inch shy of the personal best he set three weeks ago in Linz, Austria. Not bad for a guy who doctors said might not walk again when he was hit by a motorcycle and broke both legs as a 14-year-old.

“But my parents and myself, we always believed that I would,” said Phillips, 26. “I mean, I didn’t think that story was that big of a deal. I overcame that. Now I’m Olympic champion and happy and filled with joy.”

His two big jumps this month are the best in the event since 2000. His winning mark Friday night was the Olympic best since Carl Lewis went 28-5½ in 1992 for the third of his four long jump golds.

The event has been in the doldrums for years, and Phillips aims to bring it back, not just in the United States but everywhere.

“It feels good to go beyond the limits I dreamed of as a kid,” he said. “Now I have new goals.”

Phillips attended the University of Kentucky, then transferred after his sophomore year to Arizona State and began long jumping. He still lives and trains in Tempe, Ariz.

He said he was thinking world record when he fouled on his second and third jumps. An awkward landing on the second foul was a bit embarrassing.

“I fell flat on my face,” Phillips said. “I think more than anything my pride was hurt.”

But it was quickly restored when the victory was assured and he realized a fellow American had taken second. Phillips grabbed Moffit in a bear hug, then the two paraded the American flag around the track in celebration, just before the United States completed its big night with a sweep in the 200.

The United States has now won the long jump gold medal in all but four Olympic Games.

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“To go 1-2 in the Olympic Games, and follow in the footsteps of those great jumpers — such as Mike Powell, Carl Lewis, Bob Beamon, Ralph Boston — now you’ve got Dwight Phillips and John Moffitt,” Phillips said.

Phillips will be married Nov. 13 to his longtime girlfriend, Valerie Williams.

“I had absolutely nothing to do with the wedding preparations,” he laughed. “I was concentrating on winning a gold medal.”

Sitting next to him, bronze medalist Joan Lino Martinez of Spain asked if he could come, too.

“Sure,” Phillips said. “You’re invited.”

Often overlooked by larger personalities in the sport, Phillips is known in track circles, as Maurice Greene put it, as “a nice guy.”

“I would like to be known as a patriotic guy,” Phillips said, “a guy that was raised well by my mom and dad, a guy who’s always smiling, and a guy who’s always going to give his all, in everything he does, not only in track and field but in every part of my life.”

Track & field - Men's Long Jump (medals: Aug. 26th) Medal Athlete Country Result Gold Dwight Phillips United States 28 feet 2 1/4 inches Silver John Moffitt United States 27-9 1/2 Bronze Joan Lino Martinez Spain 27-3 3/4 NBCO: Schedules, preliminary result and complete final results

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