European Championships: "Do your best": Mihambo is worried about starting after a corona infection

Long jump star Malaika Mihambo is still hoping to take part in the European Athletics Championships in Munich despite a corona disease.

European Championships: "Do your best": Mihambo is worried about starting after a corona infection

Long jump star Malaika Mihambo is still hoping to take part in the European Athletics Championships in Munich despite a corona disease.

"Despite the forced break and the training backlog, I will try to start and do my best," said the 28-year-old world champion in a statement from her management, "knowing full well that I probably won't be able to build on my level of performance from Eugene."

Whether she can actually compete at the European Championships, which begins next Monday, will be decided over the next week, the statement said. The women's long jump qualification is scheduled for next Tuesday. The final will be held two days later on August 18 and, with Mihambo as title favorite and defender, is set to be one of the big attractions of the home European Championship.

Last training session before World Cup

Although Mihambo's mental strength would always have helped her in competitions, coach Uli Knapp warns against too high expectations. "A corona infection, even if it was only mild, drains the body enormously," he said. With the three-time "Sportswoman of the Year" he traveled to the pre-camp of the German Athletics Association (DLV) in Erding, Bavaria. "We will give them the best possible support there and hope that things will work out with a start," said DLV head coach Annett Stein.

After her return from the World Cup in Eugene, where she defended the 2019 title in Doha with 7.12 meters, Mihambo was infected with the virus. "It was a mild course, but I felt tired and listless and didn't train for ten days," reported the exceptional athlete from LG Kurpfalz. "Unfortunately, the quarantine and the symptoms made optimal preparation for the competition impossible."

After a medical check, she completed a light strength training session for the first time this week. "But my last real training session was before the World Cup. That was quite a while ago and you noticed that in training," said the Olympic champion, who doesn't want to give up early despite the reduced chance of gold: "I'll do my best, too We'll see what place it will be in the end."

Next hard cancellation for DLV?

Mihambo had big plans in front of his home crowd - not just completing the title triple this year after winning the German championship in Berlin and the World Cup in Eugene. "I was so looking forward to the European Championships, I was in great shape and I wanted to show at the European Championships that I can jump even further this year than in Eugene," said Mihambo. In her first World Cup triumph in 2019, she jumped her personal best of 7.30 meters.

For the DLV, a cancellation of its figurehead would further reduce the chances of success on the Isar and the hopes of reparation after the World Cup disaster. In the USA there had only been two medals - in addition to gold by Mihambo and bronze by the women's sprint relay.

Because not only the javelin aces Johannes Vetter and Christin Hussong said injured for the EM. European obstacle champion Gesa Krause also had to pass after a slump at the World Cup. It is also unclear whether the top walkers Jonathan Hilbert and Christopher Linke, who also suffered from Corona before and during the World Cup, will be able to compete. At the 2018 European Championships in Berlin, the DLV won 19 medals.

Even rowers decimated

Not only athletes are affected by corona infections. The German rowers are also going to the European Championships with a decimated fleet after several corona cases. Due to positive tests, the men's sculls and light men's sculls have to do without a start. With the double scull, another boat from the skull area was not even reported for health reasons. "So far we have been spared when it comes to corona diseases in large regattas. The fact that the home European Championships in Munich are now affected is all the more bitter, especially for the athletes and the coaching team," said sports director Mario Woldt.