Rome Hosts the European Athletics Championships - After winning the European Championship, Mihambo states, "We haven't fully exerted our full potential yet."
European long jump champion, Malaika Mihambo, is confident that she can surpass her current achievements this Olympic season after an astounding jump of 7.22 meters in Rome, which is the second-longest of her career and the furthest recorded this year.
Mihambo, an Olympic, two-time world champion, and now a two-time European champion, is optimistic about the upcoming Summer Games in Paris. She acknowledges that they have not yet explored all the training techniques available to them. "I'm excited for the next two months of training because I know we haven't utilized all the methods yet," said Mihambo. She was only 8 cm shy of her personal best of 7.30 meters at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.
Mihambo's emotional response in Rome
Mihambo experienced goosebumps following her second attempt in Rome. "I can't even fathom this performance," she mentioned. Nonetheless, she remained cautious towards her defining role in the Olympics, aiming to focus on her personal performance first.
Mihambo explained, "In long jump, having the best form isn't enough when you're just two millimeters over the limit. But it's also apparent that I'll give it my all until the very last jump." After her muscle tear last year, she has regained her previous strength.
Javelin thrower Julian Weber was content with winning silver and his second international medal. However, he was overtaken by the Czech, Jakub Vadlejch, in the last attempt, denying Weber a second European title. Vadlejch sought redemption from his EM loss two years ago in Munich by registering a throw of 88.65 meters, while Weber led with 85.94 meters from his first attempt.
Austria's Julian Weber - room for improvement
Weber, at 29, is intent on making some improvements before the Olympics. "I can still improve technically. Honestly, these throws weren't that pretty today," he said. His objective is more routine and security.
The German team amassed five additional medals on the final day of the EM, courtesy of Mihambo, Weber, and the two men's relay teams. The total tally was eleven medals with Mihambo earning the lone gold. In the previous home EM two years ago, they claimed seven gold and silver medals and two bronze medals. Italy's athletes claimed the most medals — eleven titles and a total of 24 medals.
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In the midst of her success, Malaika Mihambo envisions competing in the Athletics events at the Olympic Games in Paris and surpassing her personal best, having come close at the 2019 World Championships in Rome. The European Championships were held in Rome, the city known as 'Olympia' in ancient times. Following Julian Weber's silver medal win at the event, he expressed his intention to improve technically before the Olympics, aiming for more routine and security in his throws.
