It was an odd scene.
But the result was the same.
World setter and Olympic number one Daniel Ståhl won the Diamond League competition in discus in Brussels, in a pre-gala to Friday’s “real” gala – and in a park environment.
The competition arena for the evening was the city park called Terkamerenbos in Flemish and Bois de la Cambre in French.
There, Ståhl struck directly with the starting field’s longest throw – 69.31 meters – in his first international competition after the Olympic gold in Tokyo just over a month ago. Then there were three trampling throws before Ståhl offered a dance of joy after 68.59 in round five.
In the final round there the top three throwers started from scratch required a better result than Jamaican Fedrick Dacres 61.75 to win. And there was never any talk. With 67.01 meters, Ståhl collected a new victory and at the same time almost SEK 90,000 in prize money. Slovenian Kristjan Ceh finished third.
– I mostly want to have fun, said Ståhl – who has the world best of 71.40 – to the organizer’s website before the competition.
– This is a unique occasion with a special setting. And it’s fun to be reunited with the discus family, we have not seen each other since Tokyo.
After the victory, he tells TT:
– This was absolutely fantastic, great fun.
– There was a lot of audience, a lot of showtime, music – in the middle of the forest in Brussels. It was awesome. Fun to throw today.
– There was never any talk. Daniel Ståhl won again.
Photo: Wiktor Nummelin / TT
He continues in the organizer’s interview about the time after the Olympics:
– It was great to come home from Japan. From nowhere you suddenly realize the impact your efforts have on a nation. Everyone in Sweden stood behind us, as one unit.
By “us”, the 29-year-old also means the Swedish Olympic runner-up Simon Pettersson – who this evening had to settle for place six after 63.57 meters in his second throw.
The women’s competition was won by Cuban Yaimé Perez (63.41 in the final round).
Diamond League week in Brussels continues at the regular athletics arena Kung Baudouin Stadium on Friday. Among others, the Swedish Olympic number one in pole vault, Armand Duplantis, competes there.
Read more:
Historic Swedish Olympic success: “Discus has finally become a Swedish national sport”
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