World Championships in Athletics Leo Neugebauer
Decathlete makes the German team dream of the first medal
Status: 25.08.2023 | Reading time: 2 minutes
After the first day, Leo Neugebauer leads the rankings in the decathlon
Quelle: Getty Images/Steph Chambers
Decathlete Leo Neugebauer leads after the first day of competition at the World Championships in Budapest. He has shown strong performances in all five previous disciplines, the first medal for the German team is within reach.
The German record holder Leo Neugebauer leads the second day of the decathlon at the World Championships in Athletics in Budapest. At the end of the first half on Friday, the 23-year-old ran the 400 meters in 47.99 seconds and collected 4640 points after five disciplines. Neugebauer previously mastered 2.02 meters in the high jump. In the morning he had improved his personal bests in the long jump and shot put.
Neugebauer jumped over eight meters for the first time, and the 17.04 meters in the shot put is also a personal best for him. “It’s been a lot of fun so far. My voice isn’t there anymore because I screamed a lot,” said Neugebauer after the first three disciplines. The long jump made him “super happy” and the ball distance was “fantastic”.
Canadian Pierce Lepage is the first pursuer with 4610 points, compatriot and Olympic champion Damian Warner follows in third place with 4578 points. Ulm’s Manuel Eitel is in twelfth place in his World Cup debut with 4296 points.
“I love the weather and really enjoy the heat”
European champion Niklas Kaul gave up before the 400 meters because of foot problems. The former world champion crossed 2.02 meters, then gave up further attempts and left the interior of the stadium. The Mainzer was first treated, then the German association announced the end of the competition. With 3271 points, Kaul was ranked 15th in the intermediate classification. Two years ago at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Kaul had stopped a foot injury suffered in the high jump.
Neugebauer could get the first medal for the German team in Budapest. The exhausting conditions in the great heat seem ideal for him. “I love the weather and really enjoy the heat,” said Neugebauer. This summer, the 23-year-old surprisingly improved Jürgen Hingsen’s German record, which had lasted for almost four decades, by four points to 8836 points.
