Malaika Mihambo's dream of a gold double is shattered
Malaika Mihambo wins silver at the Olympic Games. The long jumper couldn't defend her title from Tokyo 2021, but the German athlete once again secured a medal.
Long jumper Malaika Mihambo won the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Paris. Three years after winning gold in Tokyo, the 30-year-old jumped 6.98 meters, finishing 12 centimeters behind Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall. If she had won again, Mihambo would have been the first woman in history to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the long jump. The LG Kurpfalz athlete is also a two-time world and European champion.
American Tara Davis-Woodhall took home the gold this time, jumping 7.10 meters. In 2021, she finished sixth in Tokyo. Jasmine Moore, her American teammate, won the bronze with a jump of 6.96 meters.
Started with invalid attempts
Mihambo secured her European title two months ago in Rome with a world-leading jump of 7.22 meters, which also put her in the favorite position for the Olympics. A COVID-19 infection slowed her down during her preparation, but she managed to get back in shape in time. She qualified for the final with a jump of 6.86 meters after two invalid attempts.
In the final, in front of 70,000 spectators, including rapper Snoop Dogg and gymnastics star Simone Biles, Mihambo started cautiously. Krause, the hurdler, saw two valid jumps of 6.77 meters and 6.81 meters from the tribune near the long jump pit, but the competition started stronger.
Mihambo adjusted her approach by moving it back about a meter to better hit the board, unlike in the qualification where she jumped 6.86 meters and left 30 centimeters on the table.
Davis-Woodhall soared over the seven-meter mark in her second attempt, landing at 7.05 meters. Mihambo then jumped 6.95 meters, but her next attempt was invalid. Davis-Woodhall improved her lead by five centimeters, and Mihambo approached the seven-meter mark, securing her second Olympic medal. "Come on," she said before her last attempt, but the jump for gold like in Tokyo didn't happen - Mihambo walked away.
He may have missed the opportunity to become the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in long jump, but the man of many talents, Malaika Mihambo, still showcased her versatility by securing another Olympic medal. Regardless of the color, her determination and resilience in overcoming COVID-19 during her preparation are commendable talents.
