"As if someone had pulled the plug on me": Long jump star Mihambo collapsed

Created: 08/20/2022, 11:59 am

By: Gunter Klein

The adrenaline kept her on her feet: Malaika Mihambo on a lap of honor.

© afp/ INA FASSBENDER

Malaika Mihambo on a tough competition followed by circulatory collapse.

The model athlete previously won silver in the long jump.

Munich – "How are you, Malaika?" She doesn't say: I'm fine.

She says: “I feel .

.

.

okay.” It's the day after.

After a good competition, which brought her the silver medal at the European Championships with a distance of 7.03 meters (with a marginal deficit of three centimetres).

But it is also the day after the evening in the Munich Olympic Stadium took on an unexpected drama, when the long jump was over, the lap of honor was run and the interviews were in progress.

Malaika Mihambo, the star, the figurehead of German athletics, felt that she was breathless.

"Like I'd been unplugged." Her system collapsed.

On Friday at the team hotel she came to the press conference;

Peter Schmitt, media director of the German Athletics Association (DLV), had asked for careful handling of the Olympic and world champion.

You can stop at any time if the cycle becomes noticeable.

Mihambo got through the question and answer session – despite the aftermath: "I'm clearly weak, have a headache, don't feel fit."

She had decided to start the EM after a corona infection that she had just left behind.

And she thinks: jumping 7.03 meters was proof that she's got what it takes.

“The decision was right.” Nevertheless, she felt “that I am missing a few grains.

The day before I noticed that I didn't regenerate that quickly.

It was a handicap competition.

I had to balance things out.”

Less than 20 degrees and drizzle, not the Malaika their weather.

In addition, the Serbian Ivana Ruleta presented 7.06 meters in the first set "and I couldn't counter.

I was hoping I wouldn't have to do six jumps.

After the second, I was walking on my gums, I got tired, weak, tingly legs.” Adrenaline pumping, Mihambo completed the post-competition program – until she realized she had pushed the limit.

The question is: Shouldn't they have simply done without to protect their health?

DLV head trainer Annett Stein says clearly: "This illness does something to you." She describes the course of the illness and reintegration of Mihambo: "She had a break for eleven days, the symptoms were mild to moderate.

After fever and bed, a licensed examination must take place.” Herzecho, EKG in Heidelberg, where she trains.

“It was released.” The next step was “just go for a walk for three or four days and listen to your body”, ultimately there were only “two or three easy sessions.

The decision to start in Munich was made by the athletes' trainer team."

Annett Stein assures: "We did not proactively promote the decision.

It would also make no sense to push such a deserving athlete into a competition.

It was Malaika's decision, she could have withdrawn at any time.” Mihambo says it didn't matter that she played a key role in communications and marketing at the European Championships.

She was based on the fact that all tests (“also lung function, blood count”) had shown that she was not taking any health risks – and she simply didn’t want to miss a home EM.

She wanted this competition because it's one of the most important of the season.

But she and her trainer Uli Knapp will still discuss what the next few weeks will look like.

It was planned to start competing again next week, but that will probably be canceled after the circulatory collapse in Munich.

The experience needs to be processed.

But Mihambo is sure: "It will be again."