IIn physics, the power P is calculated as the quotient of the work done W and the time t required for it. Physics and sports student Niklas Kaul, however, has his own definition. For him, performance arises when he has fun doing it and can rely on the best possible preparation. “That affects each other,” says the 23-year-old from the experience of his previous sports life. And Kaul knows what he’s talking about, after all, the Mainz decathlete became world champion in his field at the beginning of October 2019.
More than a year and a half after the great moment in Doha, Kaul can finally go through a decathlon again. “I’m fine, I’m looking forward to it,” he says in an interview with the FAZ this weekend before the legendary meeting in Götzis and confesses, somewhat surprised by himself: “I’m more excited than I thought.” The first full two days -Competition after such a long time of pure training operation presents him with the challenge of “having to develop a feeling for the competition again”, as he says. He is really looking forward to being able to show himself in front of an audience again in the cozy Mösle Stadium in the Vorarlberg market town of Götzis – even if this time only 500 instead of the usual 10,000 are allowed due to the pandemic.
Niklas Kaul also used the long break in competition as a preventative measure and underwent an inevitable elbow operation. “I would never have had an operation if you had managed it with physiotherapy,” assures the athlete. But since the procedure was necessary, he at least chose the best possible time. With success: “The elbow is fine.”
Despite all the enthusiasm for movement, the 23-year-old leaves no doubt that he sees himself as an athlete in whom the head controls the body. “Forcing is unhealthy,” says the son of two sports teachers who are not only knowledgeable parents, but also his trainers. You all know what the young man can expect from his musculoskeletal system. “If it doesn’t work out during training,” says Kaul, “then you have to stop.”
One and a half years after his World Cup victory: The king of the athletes gets back into the action
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Image: dpa
It is part of the philosophy of the incomplete that a decathlete cannot master all disciplines perfectly anyway. From an early age, Niklas Kaul proved himself to be a master in not showing any weaknesses. As a tech-savvy athlete who combines his greatest strengths in the disciplines of the second day of competition, he is also used to not being driven crazy by intermediate results. In his World Cup victory, he stayed in eleventh place after the first day and only found himself on a medal rank after the ninth discipline, javelin throwing. In the end he became the youngest world champion in history with 8691 points.
From the upcoming meeting in Götzis, he expects, in addition to having fun in the competition, above all to create the norm for the Olympic Games in Tokyo right away, which stands at 8,350 points. “I didn’t use the decathlon calculator,” he says casually, but leaves no doubt that he’s in shape for eight and a half thousand points. The tendency is increasing later in the year, at the peak of the season, the Olympics. “When I look at my training results,” says the young champion confidently, “then I still see a lot of potential.” Nevertheless, he does not locate himself as a gold favorite, the role is more likely to be world record holder Kevin Mayer. But the Frenchman did not see the goal at either the European Championships in Berlin or the World Cup. And being successful in the decathlon always means getting through.
Upward potential: Kaul in pole vaulting
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Bild: Picture-Alliance
As a student, Kaul was able to visit the University of Mainz four times in the past semesters due to the Corona crisis, but was largely able to pursue his training as a high-performance athlete at the same faculty. “I was in a privileged situation,” he is aware of: “I’m very grateful for that.” Especially since he didn’t have to go into the hall alone. “They have not only become training partners, but also good friends,” says Kaul about his training group, which also includes the world-class heptathlete Carolin Schäfer. “We spend a lot of time together, we get on well, that’s really important.”
What happens when a decathlete runs almost perfectly is now even relevant to the exam. In Baden-Württemberg, Kaul’s world championship achievements in javelin throwing (79.05 meters) and 1500 meters (4: 15.71 minutes) were the subject of the Abitur exams in sport this school year, taking into account biomechanical principles and the principles of training science. Sports student Kaul can also rely on his special combination of knowledge and ability in competitions. And also has a very decisive mental advantage in the decathlon: “It’s what I like to do best.” So far, as the young king of athletes sums up, “it’s been going better than expected”.
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