“See you at the Olympic Games,” Julia Mayer cheered last December. In Valencia, the “running flea” from Bad Fischau-Brunn not only improved the national marathon record, but also achieved the limit for the Olympic Games in Paris. Mayer carried his strong form into the new year.
After a training camp in South Africa, she also lowered the national half marathon record at the half marathon in Malaga. The dress rehearsal will take place on Sunday when the 31-year-old starts the Vienna City Marathon.
Mayer is currently the only district athlete who has her starting place in the games secured. However, the chances are quite good that it won’t stay that way. The Bad Erlach judoka Aaron Fara is currently in 16th place in the Olympic rankings.
Calculation games in the qualifying final
On the deadline (June 25th), Fara must be among the top 17 in the weight class up to 100 kilograms in order to secure his starting place in Paris, although the rankings will be adjusted beforehand. Each nation is only allowed to send one starter per weight class. “Two people who are placed ahead of him are still out,” explains coach Adi Zeltner ahead of the upcoming European Championships and World Cup, which also count towards Olympic qualification.
But even if Fara falls behind decisively, there is still a back door to Paris. The 13 Europeans with the highest points (regardless of weight class) receive a continental quota place. So it looks good that at least two activists from the district will be there in Paris. For comparison: At the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 there was still a trio at the start with Hermann Pernsteiner, Gustav Gustenau and Luka Wraber. What about a second participation?
Gustenau has to deliver at WM
The Kirchschlager cyclist Pernsteiner doesn’t like the classic profile around Paris as much as the climbing tour in Japan. A nomination is considered unlikely. Gustenau from Wiener Neustadt, who took 16th place in the modern pentathlon in 2021, is currently in 136th place in the Olympic rankings and is therefore far behind the direct qualification places. Gustenau’s last realistic chance to get on the Olympic bandwagon is at the World Championships in Zhengzhou (June 10-16), where three more starting places will be awarded.
Wraber misses Paris, Thiem could help title
For Wraber, however, the dream of his second Olympic Games has already been dashed. The Wiener Neustädter recently lost his opening match at the European Badminton Championships in Saarbrücken and with it his last small Olympic hope.
Dominic Thiem from Lichtenwörth has a theoretical chance of winning in Paris. Although the 30-year-old is currently clearly outside the ATP qualifying places (56 starting places; adjusted for the quota, around 75th place will be necessary), but there are two guaranteed starting places for former Grand Slam winners. The crux of the matter: In addition to the 2020 US Open winner, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka also have to hope for this “wildcard”.
2024-04-17 04:51:31
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