European Track and Field Competition - Gold bank: Mihambo feels great in Paris after phenomenal double victory
Approaching the stroke of midnight, Malaika Mihambo - world's top long jumper - savored the echoes of the German anthem at the Athletics-EM in Rome. With a massive leap of 7.22 meters, she rippled the attention of her fans, brimming with pride in her win before the Olympic Stadium.
She beamed, "It felt incredible being on stage, especially in a competition as prestigious as this. I also got that same thrill, as when I won in Doha, such a beautiful moment." At Doha's World Championship in 2019, Mihambo's 7.30 meter jump secured her second world title. That same year, her body took a blow as she dealt with a muscle injury, keeping her away from the World Championship in Budapest, propelling her to recover to her previous pace.
For Germany's fans, it was heartwarming to witness her 5th international victory. Yet, there was a significant caveat in this year's European Athletics tournament.
A personal loss for Mihambo
The absence of a dominant German presence in the championship had become starker across the last year. In Budapest, where the German team returned medal-less, Mihambo's absence accentuated the lack of a global champion. Enter Julian Weber, the fourth-place participant in the Worlds, who now shared a silver in Rome. Decathlete Leo Neugebauer, her counterpart in the same event, proved to be another bright star. The WM's fifth-place athlete cautiously hoped to rival Mihambo for the gold in Paris.
Meanwhile, Mihambo shared, "I'm giving my best, whether they assign me a role or not, in the same vein, figuring out what's needed on this particular day, is key." Her arm grasped the hefty medal with 7.18-meter jump by Tara Davis-Woodhall from a past season.
A window to enhance her performance in Paris beckoned. "I'm thrilled about the upcoming workouts until early August, as I know we have more mileage left in our training and technique."
A promising future for German athletes
When it came to the larger German athletic landscape, Mihambo fathomed the growth of certain athletes. The women's long jump's bedrock strong, especially with Mikaelle Assani (21) missing bronze by a negligible point.
For high jump, Oleg Zernikel of STA step-by-step on the ladder to Olympian standing. Both men's relay teams, too, expressed their excitement about their Par-bound prospects.
However, for the running events, competing in Paris required a vastly distinct approach from the Rome. The hurdler Gesa Felicitas Krause, who made a triumphant return to the circuit, also noted, "A vast difference in strategies will be the mark of success in Paris."
More of Weber's valor
Weber, the third-time European silver medalist, proudly held a well-earned vacation with his partner, then prepared for the games. "We're all set to start practicing for the Olympics," he chirped, affirmed but not despondent about the missed second European medal, showing signs of laughter, and said, "I'll be unbeatable until then."
