In the case of long jump Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo, further examinations should clarify the severity of the thigh injury after the premature end of the competition at the German championships.
“We have to see what it is exactly. If I’m lucky, it’s nothing, if I’m unlucky, it’s a strain or a torn muscle fiber,” said Germany’s athletics star. “We have to wait for Wednesday again.” Then an MRI is planned. “There’s still a lot of time and it’s not a super bad injury either,” said Mihambo, referring to the World Cup in Budapest from July 19 to August 27.
With two convincing jumps of 6.93 meters, the 29-year-old from the LG Kurpfalz made a strong impression in the showdown with the German competition and secured her seventh German championship title. But the cancellation of their long jump competition on Sunday evening raised concerns. “I hope it’s just a slight strain,” said coach Ulli Knapp.
No crack
As the German Athletics Association announced after an initial ultrasound examination, Mihambo suffered a hardening in the injured thigh, but no tear. The injury will continue to be monitored in the coming days, said senior association doctor Andrew Lichtenthal.
For Germany’s track and field star, the World Cup season is anything but easy. First she was disabled by an infection, now her thigh is stopping her. She had already had problems after the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm a week ago, when she came second in constant rain and only 15 degrees.
“I can’t bury my head in the sand now, the thigh doesn’t heal any faster either,” said Mihambo. “My hope is just that it’s not that bad.” The 2019 and 2022 world champion is aiming for the World Cup hat-trick in Budapest.
Together with javelin thrower Julian Weber, Mihambo is currently the biggest DLV medal hope on the way to the highlight of the season. After gold by Mihambo and bronze by the currently weakened sprint relay around front woman Gina Lückenkemper at the overall disappointing World Cup last year, the DLV in Hungary’s capital hopes for a better performance.
