Weißhaidinger moved into the discus final in fourth place

Lukas Weißhaidinger moved into the evening discus throw final at the European Athletics Championships in Rome (9 p.m.) as fourth in the qualification with a distance of 63.99 meters. Only world record holder Mykolas Alekna from Lithuania managed to qualify directly, for which 66 m were required. He completed the compulsory event with 67.60 m in his first attempt. Weißhaidinger saved his energy in the warm temperatures and wants to go a little further and fight for medals.

Weißhaidinger threw 63.99 in his first attempt, was too hasty in his second, and in his third attempt the discus slipped out of his hand, but still landed at 63.86 m. In Group A, the only other athletes better than Weißhaidinger were the German Henrik Janssen with 64.74 and in Group B, in even hotter temperatures in the Olympic Stadium, the Slovenian Kristjan Ceh with 65.64. The Swedish world champion Daniel Stahl came in fifth place overall with 63.79. A total of twelve advanced.

“I did what I had to do”

“I took it as a show and made sure I saved as much energy as possible. Gregor didn’t know whether to praise me or scold me,” said Weißhaidinger, referring to his coach Gregor Högler. The throw-in went very well and was stable and the disc flew over 66 m. “I did what I had to do in the qualification. Technically it was good and fairly solid.”

Whether the past few weeks, which were exhausting due to the many meetings starting, will have an impact will become clear in the evening when the stakes are high. “Of course I have to step it up in the evening and play with fire a bit. And risk one or two invalid results. It’s very close and on a knife edge. We knew that and we’re willing to accept it,” said Weißhaidinger.