The dream of a medal comes true: Julian Weber wins the European title in the javelin throw

He just missed out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

The dream of a medal comes true: Julian Weber wins the European title in the javelin throw

He just missed out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Julian Weber now wins gold at the European Athletics Championships in Munich. With 87.66 meters, the 27-year-old beat the competition in the javelin throw.

Julian Weber has fulfilled his dream of a medal and won European Championship gold. The 27-year-old celebrated the greatest success of his career, then announced a huge party and couldn't believe what was happening. "No way, not at all. Munich, you're so cool," said the man from Mainz, who threw 87.66 meters and compensated for fourth places at the Olympics last year and most recently at the World Cup with the first international medal. "I didn't think I could throw, my shoulder hurt, my back hurt, I didn't throw when throwing in," he confessed afterwards on ZDF.

Weber got off to a good start in front of around 40,000 spectators and immediately led with 83.05 meters. The currently best German thrower, who came close to 90 meters this year, was initially satisfied with this. With every attempt, the fans tried frantically to drive Weber on. Before the competition, he had known that he had also felt the increased pressure at the World Cup. He could deal with it better now. "I think I was mentally strong today than I've ever been. That's the only reason it worked out so well. I really wanted it today and I did it," he explained.

His supposedly biggest competitor, Olympic silver medalist and World Championship third Jakub Vadlejch, countered with a strong 87.28 meters and clenched his fist. Weber also caught a strong second attempt, but slipped his foot over the boundary line as he sent the javelin in the air - the attempt was invalid. But Weber put the disappointment away, threw the javelin at 87.66 meters in the fourth round and took the lead again.

Then he dropped to his knees and put his hands on his head. Nobody came close to his distance, the Finn Lassi Etelätalo took bronze with 86.44 meters. Weber gave up his last attempt and celebrated his triumph in the curve.

Andreas Hofmann, Vice European Champion from Berlin, missed the final battle in tenth place (74.75). Rio Olympic champion and defending champion Thomas Röhler did not get past 71.31 meters in the qualification and was eliminated. The Thuringian, who recently had to struggle with injuries again and again, had a wild card for the EM as European champion in 2018. The German record holder Johannes Vetter had to cancel his start at the European Championships due to injury.