German world decathlon champion Leo Neugebauer was so exhausted after his exertions that Tokyo officials brought him a wheelchair - but the pain was all worth it. The Olympic silver medallist secured gold thanks to a personal best in the concluding 1,500 metres, bettering his previous top time by a huge three seconds.
German world decathlon champion Leo Neugebauer was so exhausted after his exertions that Tokyo officials brought him a wheelchair - but the pain was all worth it.
The Olympic silver medallist secured gold thanks to a personal best in the concluding 1,500 metres, bettering his previous top time by a huge three seconds.
He then collapsed to the ground through fatigue and delight in the pouring Japanese rain.
"The wheelchair wasn’t necessary. I felt like crap, but I got up," Neugebauer said. "The second day was really awesome. I made the most of the crowd. It was so much fun."
The 25-year-old said the season had been a roller-coaster ride with highs and lows, adding that the golden ending was all the more beautiful "because I didn’t expect it at all."
Neugebauer prevailed in an otherwise chaotic decathlon that saw numerous dropouts, including that of top favourite Sander Skotheim from Norway.
The German - who lives in the US - ultimately secured victory with 8,804 points, finishing 20 points ahead of Ayden Owens-Delerme from Puerto Rico. Bronze went to American Kyle Garland.
At the worlds two years ago in Budapest, Neugebauer had fallen from the lead at the halfway point to finish fifth.
At the Olympic Games in Paris last year, he had also been on course for gold but ended up with silver.
This time, he took the lead after a clear personal best in the javelin and never looked back as he seized a first major title.
Category: General Sports
