Long jumper Mihambo with problems at the start of the season

Olympic athletics champions Malaika Mihambo and Yemisi Ogunleye have started the World Championships season with second places. Long jumper Mihambo had to settle for 6.66 meters at the international Golden Oval meeting in Dresden. This meant second place in the new Heinz Steyer Stadium behind Portugal's Agate de Sousa, who won in 6.73 meters.

Painful Mihambo landing

Tokyo Olympic champion Mihambo landed awkwardly on her first attempt in front of 8,050 spectators, sprained her back and had to be treated briefly. "It then took me a while to feel completely normal again. I also had technical problems in between, but I hope that things will go better next week," said the athlete from LG Kurpfalz after her first competition of the season.

Olympic shot put champion Ogunleye (Mannheim) was more satisfied with her start to the season with a good 19.67 meters. The 26-year-old looked like the winner for a long time, but was caught by two-time world champion Chase Jackson from the USA, who heaved the ball to 19.73 meters in her sixth attempt.

Ogunleye "super grateful"

"I'm super grateful for this distance. Second place, it can go on like this," said the Paris gold medal winner, who was ill during her preparations. "There's no better way to start the season."

Pole vaulter Bo Kanda Lita Baehre (Düsseldorf Athletics) got off to a good start. The 2022 European Championship silver medallist cleared 5.73 meters and was only beaten by Australia's Chris Nilsen, who cleared all five heights in his first attempt and ultimately won with 5.92 meters.

In the women's discus throw, two-time Olympic champion Valarie Allman from the USA came out on top with 67.84 meters. The best German was Shanice Craft (Halle) in fourth place with 64.07 meters.