analysis
Yemisi Ogunleye brought the championship title at the Hallen DM in Dortmund on Friday (February 21, 2025). The way was worthy of an Olympic champion, the whole German athletics, especially the shot put, benefits from her.
It was not surprising that Yemisi Ogunleye defended her championship title in the shot put of the women in the Dortmund Helmut-Körnig-Halle. Also that none of their opponents – all of whom are not part of the world leaders – only had a chance. But almost the entire international scene would have bitten their teeth on her in this competition.
“20 meters” – unknown prophecy Ogunleyes top performance
Ogunleye catapulted the ball to an incredible 20.27 meters with its first attempt – so far she had never bumped into her career. The 26-year-old reacted accordingly, she slapped her hands in front of her face, jumped with joy and shouted out of herself. With her expanse, it is now number two in the world, only Sarah Mitton (Canada) continued at 20.66 meters this season.
“When I put an egg on my plate at breakfast, a man passed me and said ’20 meters ‘. I think that I actually want these expansion at the highlights. But then I thought:’ Why why why Don’t just try it ‘””said Ogunleye the curious history of her strong performance. “Because I have to do it and start everything on it in training – and now I want to go one more on the highlights.”
Ogunleye has been celebrated by the masses since Paris
Since Ogunleye fired the ball to 20 meters in August 2024 in the last attempt at the Olympic Games in Paris and celebrated the win of the gold medal, something like this is expected. And she also delivers what is expected of her. Both ISTAF competitions in Düsseldorf and Berlin had already clearly won the shot put (against international competition).
The fact that Ogunleye and Co. were allowed to start in the hall in the hall in the hall in Germany shows what she did with her Paris triumph. The shot put experiences a gold boom, thousands – or as in Berlin over 10,000 fans, the athlete, born in Germersheim, celebrate very much. So it was a little fewer spectators in Dortmund.
In addition to Mihambo, the face of athletics in women
Ogunleye is now besides Malaika Mihambo, who will fight for the championship title on Sunday (23.02.2025) in the long jump, the face of German women in athletics. That is why it is all the more important for the sport, especially for her discipline that it shows that Paris was not a positive slip.
But it is not just the sporty class that makes it a star. The person Ogunleye also inspires her broad rays, the positive way, she interacts with the audience. That was also seen from a distance when she started singing in Tokyo at the press conference after her Olympic victory, for example – and this impression also solidifies. This makes her a role model and focuses on her sport.
“In the beginning I was not aware of it, but now of course more and more through the competitions. I am very grateful that the shot put now has a completely different status in Germany”said Ogunleye. “Germany was once a very strong litter – and we are still. I think that the achievements in the litter in all disciplines speak for this. And it is great that the shot put is now the focus and gets attention.”
Kohlschrafter Maihöfer: also turns on the men
Because Ogunleye not only made the shot put of the women great again – the men also benefit. “The Yemi did a great job in Paris with her Olympic victory, so it deservedly gets the attention. But I think that turns against us”said Eric Maihöfer, who had won the championship title two hours before her. “We noticed that in Dortmund – the hall was full, the atmosphere was great. And now we want to see that the men get back up.”