- New builds in the decathlon on the medal course - Warner ahead
Gold favorite Leo Neugebauer sets sights on a medal in the Olympic decathlon. After a 100-meter sprint just over his personal best, the 24-year-old moved up to second place in the long jump at the Stade de France. Neugebauer jumped 7.98 meters, just shy of his personal best of 8.00 meters. He had sprinted the 100 meters in 10.67 seconds.
Neugebauer has 1,991 points after two events. Only Canada's Damian Warner is ahead of him with 2,042 points. The Tokyo Olympic champion was the fastest in the 100 meters with 10.25 seconds. In the long jump, he landed at 7.79 meters, below the German record.
Kaul off to a solid start
Former world and European champion Niklas Kaul is in 21st place after the first two events with 1,621 points. A solid 11.34 seconds in the 100 meters and a jump of 7.09 meters, well below his best of 7.44 meters.
Kaul is among the extended group of medal contenders but needs to improve. As the world number one, Neugebauer is the top contender for gold. At last year's World Championships in Budapest, Neugebauer fell from first place at the halfway point to fifth.
Till Steinforth, the third German starter, is in sixth place after 10.52 seconds in the 100 meters and a jump of 7.61 meters. The 22-year-old multi-event athlete from SV Halle is replacing the late withdrawal of Manuel Eitel, who had to pull out due to a COVID-19 infection.
World record holder Kevin Mayer will not be competing in the decathlon in his French homeland. After a fitness test, he had to withdraw on Thursday due to the consequences of a thigh injury. Earlier, reigning world champion Pierce LePage from Canada had also had to withdraw from the Olympics.
Leo Neugebauer, aiming for gold in Athletics' decathlon, is currently in second place with 1,991 points, trailing behind Canada's Damian Warner. In the Athletics events, former world and European champion Niklas Kaul is among the medal contenders, currently in 21st place with 1,621 points.
