Joshua Abuaku is the first German in 36 years to be in a World Cup final over 400 m hurdles. The self-confident 27-year-old seems to be well on the way to breaking Harald Schmid’s age-old record.
A for Abuaku! You don’t have to scroll far in the team brochure of the German Athletics Association (DLV) for the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, to get the profile of the surprise 400m hurdles finalist. Joshua Abuaku is number one in the alphabetical order of the 70-strong DLV World Cup squad.
What is written there about him has already been partly overtaken. And that’s thanks to the 27-year-old’s performances in the Hungarian capital. The German champions arrived from Frankfurt am Main with a personal best of 48.45 seconds. Abuaku undercut this mark on Sunday (08/20/2023) as the winner of his heat in 48.32 seconds. In the world annual best list, which is led by world record holder Karsten Warholm from Norway, he advanced to rank 15.
“The aim was to be in the top eight in the world”
On Monday evening (08/21/2023) Abuaku added another chapter to his success story: In his semifinals, the European Championship fifth finished fourth in 48.39 seconds. Four hundredths of a second ahead of Italian Allesandro Siblio, he qualified for the final with the fastest time rule – a big surprise. Most recently, the German record holder Harald Schmid stood in a 400 m hurdles World Cup final for the DLV 36 (!) years ago – and then won bronze there. “In the end it was closer than I thought. But I’m super happy. I’m in the top eight in the world. That was my goal,” said Abuaku, who has been the father of a daughter since April, beaming at the ARD microphone.
Fifth place at the European Championships in Munich motivation shot
The Frankfurter is currently in top shape and feels good all around: “A lot has come together in the last twelve months. I have a great support team, my coach, my family, my wife, my daughter. It couldn’t be better. Everything is going well according to plan.” In all areas he had “put something on it” sportingly. The success at the 2022 European Championships in Munich, where he missed the bronze medal by just a hundredth of a second, was also a push for him. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Abuaku had reached the semifinals.
Can a final run be under 48 seconds?
On Wednesday evening (23.08.2023, 9.50 p.m., in the live ticker at sportschau.de) Abuaku will now experience the highlight of his sporting career so far and, among other things, go on the stadium round with defending champion Warholm. “The final was my big goal, so it’s less pressure for me now,” said Abuaku.
I let my legs breathe a bit – and then give it my all in the final. Let’s see what’s going on then.
If Abuaku has his way, the clock should stop at under 48 seconds. With his personal best (48.32), he is second in the German leaderboard, behind Schmid, whose national record of 47.48 seconds has stood since the 1982 European Championships in Athens. “Of course I know Harald Schmid. And I also know that there is still a little way to go before he sets his German record. But maybe I can get a little closer to him on Wednesday.”
“Competition inspires, competition enlivens”
Abuaku is a family man (“There’s nothing bigger than coming home”) who knows who to thank for allowing him to fully concentrate on the sport as a young father: “My wife also gives 1,000 percent, she allows me to do everything.” After every race, he kisses the ring on his right hand out of gratitude.
My wife also gives 1,000 percent, she makes everything possible for me.
According to his own statement, the self-confidence that he exudes in Budapest is also due to the high level of performance in the German hurdles team. “We’re at a really good level. Competition inspires, competition invigorates,” said the man from Frankfurt – referring to Emil Adyegum, who was eliminated in the World Cup semifinals with a personal best (48.71), and Constantin Preis, for whom he already did was the end of the line in the run-up. “If we all keep going like this, maybe we can reach the final with three Germans. That’s a big dream, but not something that’s impossible,” says Abuaku.
Already looking towards the Olympic Games
But he himself is running a league higher than the national competition this season – and can therefore compete with Warholm, defending champion Alison dos Santos from Brazil or the American Rai Benjamin in the final on Wednesday.
After the World Cup, one point from the DLV brochure must be revised: “Since 2015, Abuaku has been considered one of the greatest German talents over the long hurdle distance,” it says, referring to the silver medal at the then U20 European Championship. No, Abuaku is no longer a talent. He has risen to become one of the top performers in the German team – and a beacon of hope for the Olympic Games next year in Paris: “I want to do the best I can there,” he said. It seems as if someone found joy in success.