Intoxicated: Decathlete Niklas Kaul wins the gold medal at the home European Championships in Munich. After a very strong javelin throw and an outstanding 1500 meter run, the former world champion caught up a big deficit in the last two disciplines and was crowned the beaming European champion.
Niklas Kaul ran like he was intoxicated, 40,000 fans yelled at him, every second counted, Kaul got everything out of himself. And was rewarded. EM gold in the decathlon. Under the frenetic cheering of the spectators in the Olympic Stadium, Kaul crowned his unbelievable race to catch up, from seventh place after the first day he went right to the front. Kaul – king of athletes.
After an unbelievable 4:10.04 minutes at the end over the 1500 meters, Kaul with 8545 points caught the long leader Simon Ehammer from Switzerland (8468), bronze went to the Estonian Janek Oiglane (8346). Defending champion Arthur Abele retired as 15th (7662), Kai Kazmirek was eighth with 8151 points. “Munich will have a very special place in my heart from now on,” said Kaul, who was celebrating after this feat with the German flag slung over his shoulders: “My ears almost blew off at the 1,500 meters.”
Kaul had made it exciting. As usual, the Mainzer started cautiously on the first day, but with best performances over 100 meters (11.16), with the ball (14.90) and over 400 meters (47.87), he kept the damage within limits turn up two. Kaul wobbled with the discus (41.80 m), but after an outstanding 76.05 m in the javelin throw he was finally on course for gold.
Since his Olympic drama in Tokyo, when Kaul had to give up injured, the student teacher has been looking forward to this home European Championship, his “emotional highlight” as he repeatedly emphasized despite the World Cup. And the fans pushed Kaul forward, he enjoyed the atmosphere in the stands at his home game. “What helps me here is that I have the audience with me. It was different in Eugene,” said Kaul, who finished sixth at the World Cup with 8434 points, at halftime: “Hopefully that will carry me a bit on the second day , it’s nice to be the hunter.”
Kaul also benefited from Kevin Mayer’s bad luck with injuries. The world record holder and world champion had to give up after the 100 meters with muscle problems. Only the Frenchman was ahead of Kaul in the entry list – after that the way was actually clear for him.
Three years ago in Doha, Kaul became the youngest world champion in history with 8691 points, even then he rolled up the field from behind. The only thing missing is Olympic gold.
