- Respiratory problems: Proud Mihambo cries for silver in wheelchair
Malaika Mihambo's joy over her Olympic silver was followed by many tears and even a departure in a wheelchair. The 30-year-old had to be helped out of the Stade de France after earning her hard-fought long jump medal. Just like two years ago after winning silver at the European Championships in Munich, the big Olympic hopeful had risked everything after recovering from a COVID-19 infection.
Even before javelin thrower Julian Weber finished sixth without the hoped-for medal, Mihambo couldn't manage a golden final jump like she did three years ago in Tokyo. She had no physical issues then, she emphasized afterwards. This time, the effects of her COVID-19 infection, which she had already felt at the European Championships in Rome two months ago, pushed Mihambo to her physical limits.
Nighttime coughing fits
"These last few weeks have been really tough. I've had severe lung problems," she said about two hours later, describing coughing fits that kept her up at night.
"I'm incredibly proud of my performance. It's not easy to start like this and still come away with a silver medal," she said after her victory lap, during which she had to seek medical help because she couldn't breathe.
"Malaika still had health issues after her illness, and her cough hadn't gone away," Weber said after his competition about his teammate. The German federation announced that Mihambo was having breathing problems. "Malaika won silver, she didn't lose gold," coach Ulli Knapp said about his determined athlete.
"Her body can't keep up"
It took some time, and after the joy of winning silver with a German flag, for her to indicate to her coach that she couldn't breathe. Before the Olympics, she had repeatedly stated that she might not be able to complete all six jumps.
"It's sad to see. Her body can't keep up. Her spirit is always fresh, but her body just can't keep up," ARD expert Frank Busemann said. "They're all professionals. You'd have to carry them out with their heads under their arms. They want to perform," he added, a former Olympic silver medalist in the decathlon.
Second German medal
Mihambo's best jump was 6.98 meters, twelve centimeters less than Tara Davis-Woodhall from the USA. This was enough for the second German athletics medal after Leo Neugebauer's silver in the decathlon.
Shot putter Yemisi Ogunleye and the German women's sprint relay team will compete in their finals later tonight with outsider chances for a medal. The German federation is aiming for three medals at these Games.
With another win, Mihambo could have become the first long jumper in Olympic history to win gold twice in a row. The LG Kurpfalz athlete is also a two-time world and European champion.
Tokyo sixth place takes top spot
This time, Davis-Woodhall celebrated in an American flag and with a colorful cowboy hat. The 25-year-old, who was second at the World Championships, finished sixth in Tokyo in 2021. Bronze went to her American teammate Jasmine Moore with 6.96 meters.
Mihambo won her European title in Rome two months ago with a world-leading jump of 7.22 meters, which also made her the favorite for the Olympics. A COVID-19 infection slowed her down in her preparations, but she still managed to get back into shape in time. She qualified for the final in the Stade de France 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. She had deliberately moved her approach back by about a meter to better hit the board than in the qualifying round.
Davis-Woodhall soared over the seven-meter mark in the second round - to 7.05 meters. Mihambo edged closer to seven meters, securing her second Olympic medal. "Come on," she said before her final attempt - and then she went through.
Olympic Record in Javelin Throw
Weber struggled in vain. The 29-year-old from Mainz threw 87.40 meters and had to settle for sixth place. Gold went to WM silver medalist Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan, whose javelin landed at the Olympic record distance of 92.97 meters.
"I was still throwing over 90 meters in the warm-up. It's frustrating that I couldn't show what I'm capable of," said Weber.
Tokyo Olympic Champion and World Champion Neeraj Chopra from India took second place with 89.45 meters. Former World Champion Anderson Peters from Grenada won bronze with 88.54 meters. Leverkusen's Max Dehning failed to qualify.
Despite her previous success at the European Championships in Tokyo, Malaika Mihambo's performance in the long jump at this year's Olympics was affected by health issues stemming from a COVID-19 infection. She managed to secure a silver medal, earning France its second athletics medal at the Games.
Mihambo's struggle to perform at her best in Paris was a stark contrast to her triumphant performance in Tokyo three years ago, when she represented Germany in the long jump. Despite her physical limitations this time around, she showcased her resilience and determination.
