BUDAPEST: German athletics ended a world championship without a medal for the first time on Sunday, just one year before the Paris Olympics, reported German news agency dpa.
Javelin thrower Julian Weber was the last realistic hope, but Czech Jakub Vadlejch stole the bronze from him on the last attempt as Weber had to settle for fourth as at the previous worlds and Olympics.
“I don’t really know what happened. I gave my all. I would have loved to have gotten the medal. I am very sorry,” Weber told broadcasters ZDF.
National federation president Jürgen Kessing had hoped the team could avoid the worst-case scenario when he said before the final session: “We didn’t come here to go back home again empty-handed.”
Sports director Jörg Bügner did not want to ditch the goal of being in the top 5 nations again within five years, and there were some encouraging signs even though a turnaround from last year’s worlds failed.
But Bügner conceded that “we have lost touch to the world elite in many disciplines. We have a bigger gap to close and must make a bigger effort.”
Fourth place from Weber, four fifth-place finishes, and 12 top-eight placings were the result, which is five more top-eight finishes than last year in Eugene and some sort of encouragement.
There were also two national records, nine personal bests, and eight season bests.
But the German team at least won two medals in Oregon, long-jump gold from Malaika Mihambo and women’s 4x100m relay bronze.
This time around Olympic and two-time world champion Mihambo was sidelined with injury and the relay had to settle for sixth with two of their regulars also injured.
Relay member and German team captain Gina Lückenkemper had mixed feelings about the nine days in Hungary.
“We had performances which previously would have always been good for a medal. This extreme performance development in some disciplines – sport is always developing – be it shoes or training science. We are aware of this situation,” she said.
The German team largely depends on Mihambo, the relay, the decathletes, and some throwers – and doesn’t have stars like sprint treble winner Noah Lyles, 1,500m/5,000m champ Faith Kipyegon or pole vault king Mondo Duplantis within their ranks.
On the encouraging side decathlete, Leo Neugebauer could develop further towards Paris, saying “I learnt a lot about myself here”, even though he lost an overnight lead and had to settle for fifth.
“Better it happened now than at the Olympics,” he said. “If I stay healthy there is no limit.”
Joshua Abuako was the first German in a 400m hurdles final and U23 European champion Olivia Gürth ran another steeplechase best which also made her meet the Olympic qualifying criteria.
But there was also Sam Parsons’ fall in the 5,000m and 200m runner Joshua Hartmann crashing out in the heats when he thought he would be through.
Decathlon debutant Manuel Eitel probably spoke for many when he said: “For me, it was definitely a competition to learn and grow.” – BERNAMA-dpa
