Long jump Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo is looking forward to the European Championships in Rome. After Germany’s zero result at the World Championships, she is predicting new successes. She outlines her future career path.
Olympic athletics champion Malaika Mihambo is not planning her big career beyond the Olympic year of 2028. “I want to be involved in competitive sports until 2028 at the latest. Everything that comes after that is still a long way off and very open for me,” the 30-year-old told dpa. The two-time long jump world champion has no “special milestones” in mind for her career until then.
The LG Kurpfalz athlete had to miss last year’s World Championships in Budapest after an injury. She is one of Germany’s biggest medal hopes at the European Championships in Rome from Friday to Wednesday, as well as at the Olympic Games in Paris in August. “Victory is always about day X – and that’s when it will be decided in Paris who wins,” said Mihambo.
Mihambo expects more successful athletics year
After Germany’s zero points at the World Championships in Budapest, Mihambo is expecting more success this year – although patience will be required for a lasting effect. “There are some disciplines in which the level is rising. For example, in the women’s long jump, where Laura Raquel Müller, Mikaelle Assani and Maryse Luzolo also got off to a good start in the season. We also have eight-meter jumpers in the men’s category again,” said the three-time “Sportswoman of the Year”.
“In individual disciplines and for individual athletes, there could certainly be more successes this year. But in order to sustainably improve the level across the board, we need to look at a longer period of time,” explained Mihambo. “Perhaps we can achieve this by the Olympic Games in 2028 or 2032. But we should also become more aware that personal bests without a medal are also worth appreciating.”
Remembrance of “borderline experience”
Ten years after her European Championship debut, the championships in Rome are a small anniversary for Mihambo. Back then, she finished fourth in Zurich. After that, she won a complete set of European Championship medals.
At the German European Championships summer fairytale in Munich two years ago, she came second, weakened by a corona infection. “That was a special achievement. It was a very intense competition and definitely a borderline experience,” said Mihambo. “I’m glad I competed there. The competition also helped me to recognize my own limits even better.”
Source: Stern
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