Malaika Mihambo left the pit shaking his head, the long jump queen knew: This time it wasn’t enough to counterattack in the last attempt. The defending champion was dethroned in a gripping final in Munich and missed her next big gold by three centimetres.
“Unfortunately, luck was a bit lacking,” said Mihambo on the stadium microphone. Nevertheless, second place is a reason “to celebrate. Thank you Munich.” With the Germany flag around her shoulders, she was celebrated and wrote many autographs for the fans. They almost didn’t care that their star didn’t get gold this time.
After 7.03 m, the Olympic champion and world champion at the home European Championship surprisingly had to admit defeat to Ivana Vuleta after her corona infection – the Serb jumped 7.06 m in her first attempt. Bronze went to Jazmin Sawyers of Great Britain (6.80).
For the first time since the beginning of athletics, it had poured heavily in the Olympic Stadium. The rain then eased off, but an unpleasant and changing wind blew. Mihambo didn’t get along with it that well, her rhythm in the run-up didn’t allow for a counterattack anymore. Not even in “her” last attempt, in which she had already won many competitions.
The head wants it, the legs don’t
Despite her COVID-19 disease, Mihambo was the top favorite for EM gold – but the infection apparently cost the 28-year-old too much strength.
Cheered on by around 40,000 spectators in the Olympic Stadium, Mihambo gave it his all, but his legs didn’t want to do as well as his head. In the end, Germany’s sportswoman of the year had nothing to worry about, the hoped-for counterattack did not materialize. And so Mihambo conceded a defeat in a major championship for the first time after 1468 days.
European champion 2018, world champion 2019, Olympic champion in Tokyo, world champion 2022 – and the next big title was supposed to be in Munich, at the emotional highlight of the year. But it was only on Friday that Mihambo gave the green light to start after she fell ill with Corona after the World Cup in Eugene. Mihambo lay flat for ten days and could not train.
Mihambo runs out of breath
She “certainly didn’t lose that much substance” through Corona, Mihambo said after qualifying on Tuesday, in which she made a strong impression at 6.99 m. But Germany’s athletics star also had to admit: “I notice that I get tired more quickly.” And now she really ran out of power.
Even if the defeat hurts, of course, Mihambo will be able to cope. “I don’t have to prove anything to anyone because I’ve already achieved everything,” said Mihambo in advance.
There are still three competitions to go, then it’s off to their next backpacking trip to South America. “I’m really looking forward to it,” said Mihambo. And next year it should definitely be gold again.