The German athletics fans paid particular attention to the decathlon at this year’s World Championships, as shooting star Leo Neugebauer caused quite a stir. But around the competitions there is also criticism of the timing.
Did the top decathletes of this year’s world championships in Budapest compete against each other under unequal circumstances? According to ex-athlete Rico Freimuth, who won silver at the 2017 World Championships in London and bronze in 2015 in Beijing, the timing on Saturday could well have made the decisive difference.
Due to the large number of athletes competing in the decathlon, some disciplines are always divided into two groups. The fact that the medal favorites were put into different groups in Budapest was “absurd”, according to the “Eurosport” expert: “If you think about it logically, the medal contenders should definitely be timed, also just because of the breaks, which of course Make a difference, throw and jump in a group.”
On Saturday, the second day of competition for the decathletes, the decision was different. Pierce LePage from Canada, who is leading after six competitions, started in group A in the discus and pole vault together with Leo Neugebauer. The big competitor Damian Warner, on the other hand, started in Group B.
The time gap in which the respective groups fought for the points in the discus throw was quite large at 55 minutes. When Warner had just thrown his last disc, Neugebauer entered the pole vault facility. And since the trio then competed in a group again in the javelin throw in the evening, the difference in breaks was around 50 minutes, as Freimuth emphasized.
“If we’re honest, that’s actually a cheek”
“Of course that’s a difference that can be decisive in the end. It’s ridiculous for the association to do it that way. If we’re honest, it’s actually cheeky,” said the clear criticism of the 35-year-old.
Decathlon shooting star Neugebauer finished fifth at the World Championships. Gold went to Pierce Lepage from Canada, his compatriot Damian Warner secured silver. Lindon Victor from Grenada won the bronze medal.