Malaika Mihambo, a guarantee of success, is starting the Olympic Games. The 30-year-old is the German track and field athletes’ biggest hope for gold. There is one thing she is particularly looking forward to in Paris.
Long jump Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo expects that the atmosphere that was missing in Tokyo will lead to better performances at the Paris Games. “It is of course nice when we have full stadiums again and lots of people come to celebrate with us athletes and support us. Support and applause give you energy for the competition,” Mihambo told the German Press Agency before her start in the qualification today. “With this energy and more strength you can perform even better.”
Three years ago in Tokyo, Mihambo was crowned Olympic champion. Due to the corona pandemic, however, there were only a few spectators in the stadium. In addition to Mihambo, Mikaelle Assani and Laura Raquel Müller will compete for the German team at the Stade de France. The medals will be awarded on Thursday.
Mihambo’s trainer: “Malaika seems calmer than before Tokyo”
“We are particularly well positioned in the women’s long jump. We have a good team, and not just in the front row,” said Mihambo. “It’s very nice to have the certainty that you can field at least three athletes at international championships.”
The two-time world and European champion could be the first long jumper to win gold at two consecutive Olympic Games. “Malaika seems calmer than before Tokyo. Back then we were coming out of a very difficult emotional phase. Now the general mood is more relaxed. Malaika feels that she is getting back to her top performances,” coach Ulli Knapp told the German Press Agency.
“Malaika is an Olympic champion, twice a world champion and twice a European champion. Another Olympic victory would certainly be great, but she does not have the same pressure as perhaps others,” said Knapp.
She jumped her best distance of 7.30 meters at her first World Championship title in 2019 in Doha. Mihambo leads the annual world best list with 7.22 meters from the European Championship title in Rome. “The competition is strong. The European Championships also showed that. The level has rarely been as high as this year. It will definitely be an exciting competition in Paris,” said Mihambo.
Source: Stern
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