Athletics Championships in Europe - European titleholder Kaul aims for inclusion in the 2028 Games.
Niklas Kaul, the 10-event European champion, predicts a better year for German sports after the World Championships' zero medal count—although not all issues will be solved during the upcoming Olympic season.
"We don't need to pretend. We can't travel to Paris with the goal of winning 15 medals there. But I think the balance will be better than it was after the World Championships in Budapest," Kaul told the German Press Agency. The athlete will be in the spotlight on Monday at the European Championships in Rome, where he's set to defend his title.
Significance extends beyond title defense
In his recently published book "The Magic of the Decathlon," Kaul highlights the fascination of his sport. While defending his title at the European Championships in Rome, the 26-year-old from USC Mainz emphasizes the significance of the event: "The importance of the European Championships for me is very high - not only because I am the defending champion."
In Budapest, no German medals were won. Kaul's decathlon was prematurely terminated. Overall, there were numerous setbacks, but this time, the team was less plagued by injuries, Kaul said.
"However, all the problems won't vanish all at once after this season. One fundamental issue that persists is the inability to attract more promising young talent from schools to competitive sports. That's not just a problem in athletics but in the entire German sports scene," said the student.
Kaul, who's been named "Sportsman of the Year" twice, sees the upcoming Olympics in Paris as the season's highlight. "I would love to win one of the three medals very much. However, I have to give my best performance to achieve this, otherwise I can't make it. Yet, I'm not currently focusing on the Olympics because my first objective is the EM. That's the initial milestone on the road to Paris," he added.
Dubai 2028 Olympics may be Kaul's final Summer Games. "I'd like to be there at the Olympic Games in 2028 in Los Angeles. Then, I would be 30 years old—that would be appropriate," Kaul said.
