Tyrone Smith was encouraged by his season’s best jump of 7.94 metres in the long jump at the Stockholm Diamond League at the weekend.

Smith, competing in his first Diamond League meet for two years, finished eighth in his competition.

The 33-year-old jumped 7.70 in his first attempt before leaping 7.94 but was unable to improve on that distance with jumps of 7.68 and 7.65. He fouled his final two efforts.

Juan Miguel Echevarría, of Cuba, won the event with a jump of 8.83. Jeff Henderson, of the United States, came second with a leap of 8.39 and Luvo Manyonga, of South Africa, third after posting 8.25.

“7.94m for a new season’s best, but I still have a bad taste in my mouth! Smith wrote on Facebook. “Had a solid 8.20-8.30 foul. Ultimately I can be confident that my decision to go back to 22 strides is the right one.

“As far as I’m concerned that was my season opener ... forget all that retirement talk BS.”

Smith also placed eighth at the Fanny Blankers-Koen in Hengelo, Netherlands, the previous weekend with a jump of 7.62. Manyonga won the event with a leap of 8.18.

Smith finished tenth at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, in April with a leap of 7.79.