Munich: Spectacle in the Olympic Stadium: twice EM gold for Germany
The European Athletics Championships in the Olympic Stadium was a spectacular evening, crowned by the titles for decathlete Niklas Kaul and sprinter Gina Lückenkemper.
It was one of those magical evenings that only athletics can create. Of course, and above all because of the successes of German athletes. Outstanding Niklas Kaul, who won the decathlon. Or Gina Lückenkemper, who also won sensational gold in a thousandth decision.
Both were carried by the tens of thousands of spectators in the Munich Olympic Stadium. In the final 1,500-meter run, they literally roared to the finish line. “I hope it was nice for you, as it was for us,” he said afterwards into the stadium microphone. This evening in Munich will have a very special place in his heart. In 2019 Kaul had won World Cup gold in Doha, “but this European title is emotionally worth much more,” he said, recalling his long injury misery. Among other things, Kaul had to have an operation on his shoulder. All that was forgotten when he was practically shouted across the finish line. “With the 1500, my ears quickly blew out. That was just amazing.”
European Championship breathe new life into the Olympic Stadium
The Munich Olympic Stadium was once again the worthy setting for a great sports evening. In the fifty years of its existence it has lost none of its majestic beauty, which it owes above all to the world-famous, sweeping roof. While most modern stadiums are now name-some-sponsor-arenas and dedicated to football, the Olympic Stadium has retained its name and tartan track. FC Bayern, as the local Bundesliga soccer club, has long since emigrated to Fröttmaning in its high-gloss palace. TSV 1860 Munich first went there, then crashed sportily and sportily and meanwhile fled to their old home on Grünwalder Straße.
What remains is an Olympic stadium, which some have already described as a relic. Preserved mainly because of the monument protection and occasionally used as a concert venue. But the European Athletics Championships as the heart of the European Championships are breathing new life into him these days. Hours before the evening session, thousands of people roam the Olympic Park on Tuesday afternoon and flock to the grandstands when the gates open.
The appeal of athletics: something is always happening somewhere
When it finally starts, the mood boils over immediately, because with the Ulm decathlete Arthur Abele, one of the audience’s favorites takes up the javelin. Over there, on the other side of the lawn, the high jumpers are simultaneously competing in their qualification. It is this variety of disciplines that makes athletics so appealing. Something is always happening somewhere. The concentrated, jubilant or disappointed faces of the athletes can be seen again and again on four physical screens. Loud music blares from the speakers, the green plastic seat shells vibrate to the beat. Since tubes first AC/DC, shortly afterwards Tony Christie belts out his “Is this the way to Amarillo” languidly, good luck to the athlete on whom it all bounces off, who draws energy from all the hustle and bustle and soaks up the mood.
Also read about this
Goosebumps are a faithful companion on this evening, especially when German athletes start. The audience in the well-filled stands (despite the sometimes considerable ticket prices) is fair and cheers for everything and everyone, but of course feels a special bond with the compatriots. With such support, they do great. As decathlete Kaul hurls the javelin at the European Championship record distance of 76.05 meters and fuels hopes for gold, the old stadium classic “Oh, how beautiful that is” resounds through the wide circle, over which a warm summer evening slowly descends.
The Olympic Stadium in Munich is boiling when Lückenkemper wins gold
It’s still just a few seconds before the 100-meter sprinters start. When Gina Lückenkemper says into the stadium microphone after her semifinals what an amazing backdrop this is, she, of course, gets a storm of applause. Night has fallen. floodlight. Now we’re getting one after the other. The men’s long jump final is underway, won by Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou. The discus throwers are introduced. cheers. The participants in the final run over 5000 meters almost simultaneously. Maximum concentration is required if you want to keep an overview.
La Ola sloshes through the spectators and accompanies the 5000 meter runners. The Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen is fastest. A few meters further on, Kristin Pudenz and Claudine Vita took silver and bronze with the discus behind Sandra Perkovic from Croatia. The Italian Olympic champion Lamont Marcellist Jacobs is now also the European champion over 100 meters.
And gap kemper? Actually runs to gold at 10:30pm. The stadium is boiling. Nobody has been sitting here for a long time. Below, Lückenkemper wept tears of joy uncontrollably. What an evening.