class=”sc-29f61514-0 fQbOYE”>
The man is a real jack-of-all-trades: Simon Ehammer (23) belongs to the world top in the decathlon and is world class in the long jump. In 2022, the Swiss won silver at the European Championships decathlon and bronze at the World Championships long jump.
Same picture this season. In the spring he celebrated indoor silver at the European Championships in Istanbul and in Oslo he achieved his first victory in the Diamond League when he showed world champion Militiadis Tentoglou the champion in the long jump.
It would actually make sense for Ehammer to go for a double medal at the World Championships in Budapest and prove his versatility on the big stage.
Participate four consecutive days? Impossible
But now the all-rounder from Appenzell is being held back: At the World Championships in Budapest at the end of August, he can only start in one of the two disciplines. The international athletics federation World Athletics throws a spanner in the works: on August 23 and 24, the qualification and final of the long jump world championship are scheduled, on August 25 and 26 the decathlon will take place. “The agreements are very disappointing to me,” he says. “I can make both impossible.” Means: Ehammer has to decide.
But for what? Does he rely on his heart competition, the decathlon? Or is he doing everything he can to defend his World Cup medal from last year in the long jump?
The decision will be made next week
The decision should be made next week. Which way it will go is still unclear. “At the moment I am training the normal amounts, both for the decathlon and for the long jump. I would rather not have to make a decision.” But he can’t get around it. “That is why it is now important to consider where the chance of a medal is greater.”
In the long jump he is currently number 8 of the season, in the decathlon number 11. In both categories he sees a lot of potential for improvement in the coming weeks. He thinks he has a chance to win medals in Budapest in both the long jump and the decathlon.
What’s especially bitter for Ehammer: If the World Cup schedule was the same as it was a year ago in Eugene, Oregon, when there was a week between long jump and decathlon, he could actually start both events. “I don’t really understand why the schedule from then was not adopted,” says Ehammer. “I’m a little upset about that.” Especially since World Athletics has historically had athletes competing in a variety of events.
Swiss federal bosses could not help
The Swiss federation also intervened and tried to save Ehammer’s double start. “When we saw in the first version of the World Cup schedule that Simon Ehammer was unable to start in the decathlon and long jump, we contacted World Athletics,” said competition sports director Philipp Bandi. “Initially these were informal conversations, then we put our request for schedule adjustment in a letter.” But the Swiss bit on granite. “World Athletics listened to us, but ultimately did not respond to our request.”
Stupid for Ehammer and also inconvenient for Swiss Athletics. After all, Switzerland loses a chance at a medal. But there are no accusations. “Of course we also know that working out a World Cup schedule is very complex,” says Bandi. “Of course we will continue to support our athletes in the future.”
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
