The World Athletics Championships, which begin in Eugene on Friday (July 15-24, 2022), are the first in the United States. Long jump queen Malaika Mihambo is once again considered a contender for the title.
First the World Championships in Eugene, then just three weeks later the European Championships at home in Munich: “This is the summer of athletics. It is a great opportunity for the perception and visibility of a sport“, DLV CEO Idriss Gonschinska is looking forward to the two highlights. The German Athletics Association is sending 80 athletes to the USA – an impressive team.
But the German team is battered in the title fights. Numerous top performers such as Konstanze Klosterhalfen (5,000 and 10,000 m), Gesa Felicitas Krause (obstacle) or decathlon title defender Niklas Kaul recently had health problems or struggled with injuries. The javelin aces Johannes Vetter and Christin Hussong, walker Jonathan Hilbert and heptathlete Carolin Schäfer even had to cancel.
“Of course that’s a handicap. We are somewhat weakened by this“, well-known head coach Annett Stein. And so it is unlikely that her wish for the World Cup will come true: more medals than last time at the Olympic Games and the associated upswing that was targeted. In Tokyo, Mihambo (gold), discus thrower Kristin Pudenz and Hilbert ( both silver) ensured three precious metals.
Pudenz, Weber and Lita Baehre want to be on the podium
And yet there are some hopes besides defending champion Mihambo, who managed the longest jump of the year with 7.09 m. With her 67.10 m, Pudenz is number three in the world, with Julian Weber another German javelin thrower has good prospects at the start. This year, the man from Mainz, who missed bronze by just 14 centimeters in Tokyo, has already managed a strong 89.54 m. “I’m just in a good mood. This year should definitely be the first international medal her,” said the 27-year-old. “The world elite is very strong, but I am strong too.”
Pole vaulter Bo Kanda Lita Baehre, who jumped to 5.90 m this summer, is also bursting with self-confidence: “Anything can happen.” At least almost. Because the Swedish high-flyer Armand Duplantis, who wants to make his first world title perfect, should hardly be able to avoid it.
World level in almost all disciplines enormous
In any case, the competition is fierce, and the world level is enormous in almost all disciplines. Sprinter Gina Lückenkemper, who drew attention to herself at the DM with her 10.99 seconds over 100 m, does not make it into the top 30 in the world with this time. Given the pace that especially the Americans and Jamaicans for the defending champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10:67) have submitted, be ye already”jaw dropped“, says Lückenkemper.
Surprises are badly needed. “The World Cup is our number one target competition. We will be measured by how many coaching positions and funding we receive“Said Stein. In 2019 in Doha, the DLV aces had won six medals – two gold and four bronze.
WM and EM a challenge
Only three weeks after the World Championships in Eugene, the next highlight for Germany’s top athletes follows: the home European Championships in Munich. The short gap between the World Cup and the European Championship is due to the postponement of the Olympic Games from 2020 to 2021 due to the corona pandemic. The World Cup was therefore also postponed by one year to 2022.
“The EM 2018 in Berlin was an athletics party that everyone would like to experience again“, says Gonschinska. However, the DLV CEO does not believe that the continental title fights, which begin as part of the European Championships on August 15th, could reduce the absolute focus on the World Cup: “When you’re in shape and you’re at the start, you don’t worry about what’s coming three weeks later.“
At the same time, it is a very challenging situation to realize a World Cup with a time difference of nine hours only three weeks after the German championships in Berlin and shortly afterwards the European Championships. However, for an athlete who would manage the situation well and be robust, Gonschinska believes it is an opportunity to put himself in the limelight twice: “Maybe a certain serenity is also part of it. It’s an opportunity and a challenge, but I would always put opportunity first.”
Russia and Belarus excluded
In Eugene around 1,900 athletes from 192 countries compete. 49 gold medals are awarded, for the first time one Team Trophy go to the most successful nation. Reaching the first eight places, which are associated with a corresponding number of points, counts in the national ranking.
Russia and Belarus have been excluded from the World Cup because of the Ukraine war. Since 2015, Russian athletes have only been allowed to compete in international athletics competitions under a neutral flag due to the doping ban against Russia. Now they are completely out of the picture.