They were familiar images. Malaika Mihambo wrapped a German flag around herself, strode down the curve and beamed. This time, however, the German did not win gold as she often does at major events, but silver with 6.98 meters.
The victory in the long jump at the Olympic Games in Paris went to the American Tara Davis-Woodhall (7.10 meters). Her compatriot Jasmine Moore (6.96 meters) came third. It was a special evening of athletics in the Stade de France. Because the performances were special.
First of all, it was remarkable how passionately the American Noah Lyles celebrated himself – before the 200-meter sprint.
With a chain around his neck that looked as if it weighed half a kilo, the Olympic champion in Paris stormed across the tartan track over 100 meters before the starting gun was fired as if he had already won.
Julian Weber finished sixth.
But Lyles had no chance against Letsile Tebogo from Botswana, who stormed to the finish line in 19.46 seconds ahead of the American Kenneth Bednarek (19.62) and Lyles. Lyles then lay completely exhausted on the tartan track. He then had to be taken out of the interior in a wheelchair.
The US sprinter and his association at the Olympic Games then confirmed a corona infection in Paris. According to this, Lyles had already tested positive for the virus on Monday. In the interview zone, he spoke to reporters wearing a mask.
The other athletes were a little more reserved. But this did not affect their performance. Especially not in the javelin throw. It was a fantastic competition, with Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan emerging as the winner with an Olympic record of 92.97 meters.
The favorite Neeraj Chopra from India came second with 89.45 meters and Anderson Peters (88.45 meters/Grenada) came third. The German Julian Weber missed a medal with 87.40 meters and came in sixth.
50,37
seconds is how fast Sydney McLaughline-Levrone needed to run the 400-meter hurdles. No woman has ever run this fast in this discipline.
The highlight of the evening was the women’s 400-meter hurdles final. The American Sydney McLaughline-Levrone won the race amid deafening noise in a world record time (50.37 seconds) ahead of her compatriot Anna Cockrell (51.87) and the Dutchwoman Femke Bol (52.15).
It was not initially known whether Malaika Mihambo had spoken to Carl Lewis before her competition. But it is likely. The athletics legend from the USA was in the Stade de France in Paris and saw with her own eyes how the German long jumper won an Olympic medal for the second time in her career after gold in Tokyo.
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Lewis and Mihambo share a small soul mate connection. A few years ago, Mihambo was considering moving to the USA; she wanted to train under Lewis. Like Mihambo, Lewis is a spiritual type and likes to meditate. Their bags were almost packed, but the coronavirus pandemic got in the way.
Maybe it was a lucky coincidence that it didn’t work out. At least in sporting terms. Because, just like during the Corona period, Mihambo is one of the most stable and, above all, the strongest-nerved jumpers. Even in the qualification, she had stayed cool after two invalid attempts and confidently used her last chance for a place in the final.
Twelve centimeters separated them from gold
On Thursday, the setting couldn’t have been better. Around 80,000 spectators came, it wasn’t too warm and not too cold. During her performance, Mihambo formed a heart with both her hands, and the spectators cheered. It was time to begin.
Mihambo was second and was already clenching her fists after her jump. A valid 6.77 meters with a wasted 16.3 centimeters was decent. She consulted with her coach Ulli Knapp. After the first round, the Americans Tara Davis-Woodhall (7.05 meters) and Jasmine Moore (6.96 meters) were in the lead.
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A little later, on her second attempt, she hit the bar almost perfectly, but landed only four centimeters further away. She shook her head in disappointment and leaned against the barrier.
This was followed by a jump of 6.95 metres, an invalid attempt and in the fifth round 6.98 metres, which meant second place.
Davis-Woodhall was unbeatable that evening with a distance of 7.10 meters in the fourth round. Mihambo gave the winner a big hug and initially seemed happy – even though she had “only” won silver. But then her strength failed her: Mihambo sat on the ground, completely exhausted, and had to be taken away in a wheelchair.
“It’s just been difficult the last few weeks. I’ve had serious problems with my lungs,” she said almost two hours later, reporting coughing fits that made it hard for her to sleep at night. “So I’m incredibly proud of my performance. It’s hard for someone to be able to compete with such a handicap and still win a silver medal.”
