2023-08-24 16:49:00
The Athletics World Championships in Budapest are currently serving up straight-throughs for scriptwriters every evening. On Wednesday it was the women’s pole vault competition, which escalated into a thriller. In the end there was an almost cheesy happy ending: Nina Kennedy (Aus) and Katie Moon (USA), who had fought a high-class duel with each other, agreed on a kind of non-aggression pact at a late hour and thus took first place ex aequo. The gold shared turned into double joy.
“When she looked like she wanted to share gold, it was an instant yes from me. We’ve always been at the same level in this competition,” said Moon, who entered the competition as a clear favorite. “I haven’t realized it yet and I can’t believe it. It’s such an honor to share the title with Katie – she’s the greatest of all time. I feel very lucky,” said Kennedy, who, like her opponent following the Showdown shed some tears. With her jump of 4.90 meters, the 26-year-old improved her own Australian record by eight centimeters. Both finalists failed three times at 4.95 meters. Instead of determining the winner in a jump-off at a lower level, the world title was shared.
Incidentally, there was also such a draw at the 2021 Summer Games in Tokyo. At that time, the high jumpers Gianmarco Tamberi (Ita) and Mutaz Essa Barshim (Kat) agreed not to play a decisive jump-off. Both got Olympic gold.
Gold, silver, bronze for Norway
In the finals on Wednesday evening there was a complete set of medals for Norway, with Jakob Ingebrigtsen not being able to celebrate his silver medal. The Olympic champion was the top favorite in the 1500 meter race, in the sprint to the finish he had to admit defeat to the victorious Scotsman Josh Kerr in 3:39.38 minutes. Bronze also went to Norway with Narve Gilje Nordas. Norway’s Olympic and World Champion Karsten Warholm was unbeatable in the 400 meter hurdles. The 27-year-old won his third World Championship gold medal.
Hudson aims for top spot
After her confident qualification for the final, Austria’s javelin thrower Victoria Hudson is aiming for a top place on Friday (8:20 p.m., ORF Sport+). “I have to keep fighting and fight for a bit of territory in the world class,” says the 27-year-old from Lower Austria, who has been working with trainer Gregor Högler once more since the beginning of the year, who also has Innviertel discus thrower Lukas Weißhaidinger under his wing.
Image: ANTONIN THUILLIER (APA/AFP/ANTONIN THUILLIER)
“I feel really safe with Gregor at my side,” says Hudson, who got a place in the final with the first throw (62.96 meters) in qualifying. Twelve athletes are involved in today’s decision, following three throws the best eight determine the world champion with three more throws. Hudson wants to be in that “endgame.”
Author
Christoph Zöpfl
Head of sports department
Christoph Zöpfl
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