With Olympic silver, German record and now gold at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, ten-fighters Leo Neugebauer has achieved almost everything at the age of 25. But his era has just started.
Even on the day after his great triumph, Leo Neugebauer had not yet realized what he succeeded in at the end of the 20th World Athletics World Cup in the nation Stadium of Tokyo in front of 70,000 raging spectators: “World champion, that sounds crazy. Until the penultimate discipline, I had no idea that this is possible at all. I still can’t understand that I did it“, said the freshly crowned king of the athletes of the sports show on Monday (September 22, 2025).
You want to achieve such a success at some point in your life. It is unimaginable that I have already done this. I still can’t do that. I need a few days.
In the evening, the pain was forgotten after the sacrificing fight on the last steps of the 1,500-meter run when he had saved a wafer-thin lead of 20 points on Ayden Owens-Delerme (Puerto Rico) and then lying on the track for minutes. In the meantime, he was even put in a wheelchair, but he then ran out with the last effort again.
Made the night into day
“The legs have never hurt so much. But then I had a pizza and it went again”the 25-year-old reported radiantly. Together with friends, he made the night a day, was able to dance and make mood again: “It was fun and was really necessary after this crazy experience – a horny world championship.”
After the Olympic silver last year, the Stuttgart has now reached the top. “You want to achieve such a success at some point in your life. The fact that I have already done it is unimaginable”he said.
Federal President Steinmeier congratulates
His cell phone had practically exploded, also Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier congratulated via Instagram: “What a grandiose performance, what a finish! Countless fans from Germany have spent and congratulate the new world champion from the bottom of my heart.”
At the award ceremony in the evening, the model athlete, who continues to train in Austin/Texas after his college period, sheds tears of emotion and happiness: “Standing at the top of the podium and hearing the German national anthem was very special”he described.
Hopeful With a view of Los Angeles
German record (8961 points), Olympic second in Paris and now World Cup gold-what else can come? “I have no idea”said Neugebauer and laughed. “I will go very easily into the next seasons because I have already reached so much and I’m already happy.”
But of course he is now one of the very big hopes with a view to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles in his adopted home USA. At the age of 28, he will be in the best decathlon age.
The future can wait – for the moment
For Neugebauer Current Music. After the gold triumph of Tokyo, free time and relaxation are on the program, especially since the knee, which is struck by the high jump, hurts. “I’m still a bit in Japan and travel around with my friends, I will eat a lot and just enjoy Japanese Vibes”the Sushi fan revealed the sports show. The future can wait. At least for a little while.