The 41 year-old won the men’s 40-45 years long jump competition at the Games, his first major title since he retired from the sport more than 20 years ago.

A former State and national champion, Van Der Jagt gave the sport away as a 20 year-old before returning late last year.

“I finished second at the Country titles at the end of last year,” he said.

“This was only my second major competition since coming back and the first this year.”

As a junior Van Der Jagt won consecutive national titles from 11 to 17 years of age and still holds the NSW triple jump record of 14.35m, achieved as a 15 year-old.

Coached by his father, he could have gone on to become one of the best jumpers this country has ever produced, but he gave it all away shortly after leaving school to pursue other interests.

“Last year I started coaching a couple of local youngsters and that got me back into it,” he said.

“I don’t think my age has been a burden, I feel great. I had a sore back before I started training again and now it’s gone.”

Van Der Jagt recorded 5.94m to win the Masters title, but said he felt he was capable of jumping much further.

“I jumped 6.07m at the Country titles last year and as a junior I was jumping upwards of six and a half metres,” he said.

“I had a bit of a stomach bug heading into the Masters and I can’t wait to compete when I’m fully fit and see what I can really jump.”

He said his aim was to become the best long jumper in the world over 40 and he also voiced an interest in a return to triple jump at a competitive level.

“I want to get back into it. I only gave it away because I was getting more injuries from it, but I’ve been trying a few jumps at training and they feel great, it’s much smoother than long jump,” he said.

Van Der Jagt said he owed much of his success to local gym Five Star Fitness and physio Virginia Ruscoe, with whom he has been working closely over the past six months.