The German track and field athletes transformed the Munich Olympic Stadium on Tuesday evening (08/17/2022) into a party temple in which one emotional highlight chased the next. The script was perfect. Decathlete Niklas Kaul and Europe’s new sprint queen Gina Lückenkemper provided the crowning glory.
At the end of a sensational day at the European Championships, 40,000 enthusiastic spectators sang “Oh, how beautiful it is”. Celebrated an intoxicating evening in the Olympic Stadium, which they probably won’t forget. Neither does Gina Lückenkemper. The new European champion, who had literally fallen to the finish line and injured her leg, sat beaming on a chair and conducted the orchestra.
“The stadium is amazing, a real witch’s cauldron,” rejoiced the 25-year-old, who had already become European runner-up four years ago in Berlin. “Realizing that they’re all here because they want to see me put on a great performance pushed me incredibly.”
Kaul runs to the title to thunderous applause
Hours earlier, the party had picked up speed when Norway’s world champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen ran to win the title again and the Lao Ola wave swept through the wide circuit for the entire duration of the 5,000 meter final – around 13:21 minutes.
You don’t see an Olympic champion every day, but nobody could have guessed what was to come: Niklas Kaul’s storm run, for example, who, carried by the crowd, pulverized his personal best in the final 1,500 meter run and ran to thunderous applause for the title . “My ears blew off, it was amazing. Thank you, Munich,” said the Mainzer into the stadium microphone after he had pushed the Swiss Simon Ehammer (8,468) from first place with a successful race to catch up with 8,545 points.
Abele said goodbye in tears
The jubilation had hardly subsided when it got emotional again – and how. Arthur Abele, whom Kaul replaced as European champion, was honored with a film and went in tears on the last lap of honor of his career, which ended in a spectacular way. The 36-year-old from Ulm was disqualified in the hurdle sprint because of an alleged false start, but was allowed to continue fighting after a successful protest. He did not get past 15th and last place. After the final 1,500 meters, the decathlon colleagues lined up and the audience celebrated the popular figure like a hero.
Pudenz and Vita diligently collect discus precious metal
Another goose bumps moment, but the perfectly written screenplay had many more chapters. Abele had not yet dried his tears when, a few meters further on, Kristin Pudenz, who came second in the Olympics, set about tripping the favorite Sandra Perkovic with a personal best of 67.87 meters. The Croatian finally fought back in the exciting thriller and ultimately won with a lead of eight centimeters over the German, who was joined by Claudine Vita on the lap of honor, who won bronze with 65.20 meters. Black, red and gold luck.
Light spectacle before the 100 meter finals
The pulse remained high in the now dark stadium. The start of an impressive light show and showdown to the men’s 100-meter final, which took place without German participation, but with a lot of spectacle. Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs from Italy won in a championship record of 9.95 seconds – and was almost just an extra when the women lined up.
Munich and the athletes – that fits
Lights out again, lights on, and then Gina Lückenkemper lit her very personal fireworks. “Let’s go, Gina,” called a cheeky spectator into the silence before the starting gun. He was heard. The rest is already history – and what a history. It was the final act of a day that began with walker Christopher Linke’s long-awaited silver over 35 kilometers. The track and field athletes make Munich happy – and vice versa.