Andreas Hofmann suffered back problems during the javelin qualification.
German spearhead by Andreas Hofmann The World Cup was ruined for an extraordinary reason: the American beds caused back injuries to a 110-kilogram, two-meter-tall man.
– About a week ago, my lower back went during a training camp in Santa Barbara, California. Apparently, it was because there was a lump of a couple of centimeters in the mattress and the bed was far too soft, Hofmann said after Eugene’s qualifying.
The man stepped over all three of his throws. They carried less than 75 meters.
– I slept on the floor in Santa Barbara so that the platform would be hard enough. Physiotherapists and massage therapists treated my lower back daily. It got really good before I traveled to Eugene.
The athletes will stay in the World Cup city on the university campus connected to the stadium. The beds in the cabins are very soft so-called moments.
– The lower back is better, but this week the lower back went. These beds here in the competition village are far too soft for a man my size.
Even manipulation by experts before the race didn’t help the lower back pain.
– Unfathomable injury – and twice more in just over a week.
Zero medals
Andreas Hofmann suffers from back problems caused by American beds. PASI STOVE LAND/IL
This season, the 2018 EC silver medalist has raced at her best 87.32. Although the competitions of the last few weeks have been more difficult.
– The season has been so good and then something like this happens. I’m very disappointed. In the last practices in Germany I had the best feeling of the season.
Hofmann’s record is the ninth best of all time in the world: 92.06.
– The second back injury was too much, and I couldn’t really give my best in qualifying.
Keihäsjät’s health woes reflect the plight of a traditional athletics country: Germany has so far zero medals from Eugene.
– Really unlucky games for our team. Everyone comes here to give their best, not for a vacation. Everyone has a good reason why they haven’t passed.
You should be able to prepare for the European Championships in Munich in a better mood…
– Ha, true, the German laughed and said he was going to sleep on the floor of his cabin.
Around these moments, World Cup athletes in Eugene sleep. IL