Long jump Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo once again withstood the pressure and successfully defended her title in Eugene. It was the second medal and the only gold for the German team on the last day of the World Championships.
In the last attempt, when she was already the winner, the 28-year-old managed to improve on the best performance of the season of 7.12 m. She would have won even with her 7.09 m at the fourth attempt. Second was Ese Brume from Nigeria (7.02), bronze went to Leticia Oro Melo from Brazil (6.89). “I wanted to keep jumping, I can. But I’m so happy that I defended my title,” said Mihambo after a nerve-wracking competition.
A nail-biter after two failed attempts
Once again, the girl from Heidelberg, who has been unbeaten at major outdoor events since her 2018 European Championship triumph in Berlin, showed nerves of steel: after two failed attempts, she threatened to miss the final battle, but then achieved a remarkable 6.98 m with a safety jump was allowed to complete the three other jumps.
I didn’t actually doubt myself, I calmed down. I simply trust myself to be there even in such crisis situations.
“Of course that was very exciting again and fits into my long jump history,” said Germany’s Sportswoman of the Year afterwards, laughing. “There’s always drama. I knew that the third one had to be there – it doesn’t matter if it’s Brett or not, as long as it’s valid.”
Like Heike Drechsler, two long jump gold medals
She is now the only German besides Heike Drechsler to have won long jump gold twice at a World Championships. She is also the first European to be world long jump champion at least twice in a row. Only the Americans Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1987/1991) and Brittney Reese (2009/2011/2013) had managed to do this.