Ogunleye Wins Silver at European Indoor Championships, Mihambo Secures Bronze

Yemisi Ogunleye did not achieve the gold medal in her final attempt, but she was still radiant with her silver medal at the European Indoor Championships. The Olympic shot put champion from Mannheim recorded a distance of 19.56 meters, which was not enough to challenge the overwhelming victory of Netherlands‘ Jessica Schilder, who had a world-leading performance of 20.69 meters. Schilder’s performance delighted the audience in Apeldoorn, including King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. To claim gold, Ogunleye would have needed to surpass her recently set personal best by more than 40 centimeters. This medal was the fourth for Germany on the final day, though no titles were secured.

Mihambo Jumps to Bronze in Final Attempt

Malaika Mihambo, known for her strong nerves, managed to clinch the bronze medal in her final attempt, although she could not secure her first indoor title. The 31-year-old title collector expressed frustration over not achieving her best, as she only managed a jump of 6.88 meters. The Italian winner, Larissa Iapichino, was just six centimeters ahead. „Overall, the competition was good, but below my potential. This leaves me a bit frustrated, but that’s how sports are. You can’t always be at the top, and a medal is still a medal,“ noted the 2021 Olympic long jump champion. Mihambo had envisioned the competition differently, stating that she only hit the take-off board correctly at the crucial moment.

Assani’s Serious Fall

Prior to Mihambo’s jump, her teammate Mikaelle Assani suffered a serious fall while running at full speed and got caught on the synthetic track. Assani, who finished eighth with a jump of 6.32 meters, was taken out of the arena in a wheelchair, visibly upset. According to the German Athletics Federation, she was diagnosed with a muscular injury in her left hamstring during medical treatment.

Heß Falls Short of Title

Triple jumper Max Heß, who had set his sights on winning, also made a mark during his first attempt, jumping 17.43 meters. However, like Mihambo, he did not claim the desired first indoor title. Italian Andy Díaz Hernández, born in Cuba, soared to a distance of 17.71 meters, surpassing Heß’s previous world-leading mark. Despite finishing with silver after four indoor bronze medals, the 28-year-old from Chemnitz expressed happiness with his achievement.

Steinforth Breaks Record

In the heptathlon, Till Steinforth was not only jubilant for winning bronze but also for breaking a German record. With 6,388 points, he surpassed the previous indoor best set by decathlete Leo Neugebauer. Steinforth scored 41 points more than Neugebauer did a year ago in Boston, and he managed to secure third place in Apeldoorn with just eight points to spare after the final 1,000 meters. „The German record was definitely the goal,“ said the 22-year-old from SV Halle. Steinforth, who was re-nominated for the Olympics in Paris, finished 15th in the shadow of silver medalist Neugebauer.