Hurdle sprinter Kambundji celebrates with the Swiss document. Simon Ehammer received the bronze medal within the lengthy bounce with a leap of 8.31 metres, as did Jason Joseph within the 110 m hurdles and Dominic Lobalu within the 5000 m.
Silver medal and Swiss document: hurdles sprinter Ditaji Kambundji shines in Rome.
On the way in which to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy pays tribute to its sporting heroes. You go Roman statues and plaques of Italian sporting greats are embedded within the pavement; There are names like Fausto Coppi, Gigi Riva, Roberto Baggio and Felice Gimondi.
Inside, within the stadium, which was solely half full, the Swiss monitor and discipline athletes wrote sports activities historical past and achieved one thing that had by no means been seen earlier than. Ditaji Kambundji received silver within the 100 meters hurdles, in 12.40 seconds. Swiss document. Hurler Jason Joseph, lengthy jumper Simon Ehammer and lengthy runner Dominic Lobalu took the bronze; 4 medals for Switzerland in sooner or later is exclusive in historical past – a historic night.
Joseph received his lengthy awaited first outside medal within the 110 meters hurdles. He ran 13.43 seconds, he was proud of the rostrum end and sad with the time. He mentioned: “I can run that quick in denims and sneakers.” The assertion suits the self-image in Swiss athletics; At this time, medals on the European Championships are now not a pursuit, however generally they arrive with an announcement.
Swiss document, however not outlier?
Kambundji, for instance, traveled to Rome because the quickest European girl of the 12 months and simply missed out on the gold medal because the French winner pulled off a shock European document feat. Kambundji mentioned: “I’ve proven what I’m able to in the intervening time. However this run was not an outlier.” A Swiss document that is not outlandish? It’s once more, the brand new self-image of the Swiss monitor and discipline athletes.
Earlier than this night, individuals on the platform have been speaking a few tremendous Saturday, with an opportunity of as much as 5 cash. Heptathlete Annik Kälin got here a depressing fourth and simply missed out on a medal because the French achieved private bests in virtually each self-discipline to take bronze.
The Swiss took benefit of 4 probabilities out of 5 to win a medal; which speaks for the psychological energy of the athletes. Lobalu needed to sort out a particularly tough psychological job. The long-distance runner, who was born in South Sudan, has solely been allowed to compete for Switzerland since mid-Might. This was his first look for the Swiss crew at a serious occasion. Lobalu completed the emotional job with confidence and received a medal in a tactical race. “I discovered rather a lot,” mentioned Lobalu, wrapped in a Swiss flag. On Wednesday Lobalu will begin above 10,000 meters. He says he feels even stronger there.
Ehammer does not need to complain
Lengthy jumper Ehammer accomplished the Swiss medal quartet. Like no different, Appenzeller represents the starvation for achievement and high quality in Swiss athletics; he talks brazenly about Olympic victories and world data. After the bronze medal, Ehammer felt “he was not allowed to complain”. He achieved an honest efficiency with 8 meters 31, however Ehammer acquired technical errors even within the bronze bounce.
Victory within the lengthy bounce went to Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece with a world greatest efficiency of 8 meters 65. This exhibits how excessive the usual was that night in each self-discipline with the Swiss medal. In distinction to Ehammer, who’s a decathlete, Tentoglou depends completely on the particular self-discipline.
The one factor lacking from the Tremendous Saturday of Swiss athletics was the icing on the cake, a gold medal possible awarded to both Kambundji or Ehammer. Nevertheless, many of the Swiss crew sees these European Championships as an interim step in the direction of the Olympic Video games in Paris.
What is just not there can nonetheless be – in Rome or Paris.
