Germany leaves Eugene with few medals and lots of questions

While other countries celebrate their performance from the World Athletics Championships, which wrapped up over the weekend in Eugene, Oregon, one country is left to wonder what happened and how can they get better.

Germany long jumper Malaika Mihambo was the lone bright spot for her country over the 10 days in Oregon. The Tokyo 2020 gold medalist added to her 2019 World Championship gold with a winning leap of 7.12 meters on Sunday.

Mihambo’s gold medal was the only gold Germany claimed however. Their overall medal count of two (Germany won bronze in the women’s 4x100m relay), left them 19th in the medal table, behind Uganda and Grenada. The United States led the way with 13 gold medals, and 33 total.

“The world title by Mihambo was good, but it overshadows the fact that we did not have the successs we wanted and hoped for, said German Athletics Federation chief Juergen Kessing to German TV station ZDF. Kessing was in Eugene for the event.

“We did not live up to our demands.”

The decrease in medals is a worrying trend for German athletics. Germany hosted the 2009 World Championships and won nine medals (including two golds), good for fourth on the medal table. At the most recent World Championships in Doha in 2019, they took home six medals, and now the total has dropped to two.

“We have to be honest. We did not have the amount of medal contenders we have in previous years or decades,” said Kessing.

The chance for redemption will come quickly as Germany hosts next month’s European Championships, and Budapest, Hungary prepares to host the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

“We have the framework for talent development that runs to 2028. We will try to get those built up over 2024 and until 2028, and hopefully it will be better than Tokyo last year and Eugene this year.”

Germany won 37 medals (10 gold) at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. It was their worst performance at the Olympics since the Helsinki 1952 Games.