If this wasn’t an educational trip. “I’m going into next year a bit smarter and wiser,” says Leo Neugebauer. “I would say: just keep it relaxed, don’t take it too seriously. Don’t look at what can be after the first day. Keep on being me but have fun.”
That doesn’t sound like much, but it’s the big difference between what could have been and what happened: instead of winning the decathlon at the World Championships in Budapest, top favorite Leo Neugebauer finished fifth. Instead of a carefree performance in hurdle sprints and discus throwing, the attempts seemed as if the expectations of the audience, association and last but not least himself had placed a heavy burden on his broad shoulders on Saturday morning. The two-meter man was so clumsy over the hurdles that the spectators were happy to see only the obstacles fall and not him.
