DURING THE 5 YEARS following the Rio Olympics, Daniel Ståhl was The Man in the discus. A silver at London ’17 was followed by a gold at Doha ’19 and another gold at the Tokyo Olympics. Between ’13 & ’22, the powerful Swede was the only man to throw beyond 232-11 (71.00), a feat he achieved on 5 occasions.
However, in ’21 a serious challenger has emerged in the person of Slovenia’s Kristjan Čeh, a massive 6-foot-9 (2.06) 22-year-old who placed 5th at Tokyo and exceeded 220ft (67m) with remarkable consistency. Now with a 233-10 (71.27) best, he was 5–1 against Ståhl in ’22 prior to their Eugene meeting.
Meanwhile, other throwers were also enjoying great seasons. ’17 world champion Andrius Gudžius (Lithuania) has reached 227-8 (69.39) and his countryman Mykolas Alekna — the 19-year-old son of twice world and Olympic champion Virgilijus Alekna — has thrown 229-0 (69.81).
In the qualifying round, the bespectacled Čeh, clad in a standout lime-green kit, was one-and-done with an easy-appearing 223-10 (68.23). His whip-like arm release speed was reminiscent of a certain American woman discus champion.
Alekna led all qualifiers with the second-best throw of his career, 226-1 (68.91). Olympic medalist Simon Pettersson (Sweden) also exceeded 223-0. Ståhl settled for a 216-4 (65.95) mark.
The world’s best — there were no notable absences from the ’22 season — began the final on a hot evening with very little wind.
Ståhl was the early leader, with a 218-5 (66.59) opener, but was soon overtaken, first by Alekna with a 218-8 (66.64) throw, followed by Gudžius with 220-10 (67.31).
The favored Čeh, who had a near-sector foul on his first attempt, assumed the lead with a big 226-5 (69.02) in the second round. Alekna immediately responded with 222-8 (67.87), and Pettersson moved to 4th with his 219-10 (67.00), his only fair throw of the day.
In the third round Ståhl took over with a 226-11 (69.16)… briefly, because a film review later disallowed the mark, which would have sufficed for bronze. Regardless, Čeh settled matters with a massive 233-4 (71.13), the longest throw in Olympic or WC history. Usually poker-faced, this feat elicited an enthusiastic arms-pumping celebration.
The fourth round belonged to the Lithuanians. First Gudžius improved to 221-7 (67.55), then Alekna launched a 227-3 (69.27). The medals were decided. Ståhl could only manage a 220-2 (67.10), good for 4th. Čeh, still working, threw 226-2 (68.95), 231-4 (70.51) and 221-8 (67.57) before taking a brisk (for a man his size) victory half-lap.
“It was a fast ring here, but everyone has the same conditions, so you just need to trust yourself,” said the new champion. “I knew that I have the ability for the big throw. I did the best I could.”
Alekna, the NCAA runner-up for Cal, reflected, “It is hard for me to realize that I won silver. I just try to stay calm and not feel pressure, just to enjoy the competition.”
Added Gudžius, “This medal is amazing, after four difficult years, with injuries and COVID. Oh, I am very happy and I have no words to say, it is so emotional.”
MEN’S DISCUS RESULTS
FINAL (July 19)
(temperature 88–86F/31–30C; humidity 37–42%)
1. Kristjan Čeh (Slo) 233-4 (71.13)
(214-1, 226-5, 233-4, 226-2, 231-4, 221-8) (65.27, 69.02, 71.13, 68.95, 70.51, 67.57);
2. Mykolas Alekna (Lit) 227-3 (69.27)
(218-8, 222-8, 220-9, 227-3, f, f) (66.64, 67.87, 67.28, 69.27, f, f);
3. Andrius Gudžius (Lit) 221-7 (67.55)
(220-10, 216-9, f, 221-7, f, f) (67.31, 66.06, f, 67.55, f, f);
4. Daniel Ståhl (Swe) 220-2 (67.10)
(218-5, 216-6, f, 214-6, 220-2, 219-4) (66.59, 65.99, f, 65.39, 67.10, 66.86);
5. Simon Pettersson (Swe) 219-10 (67.00)
(f, 219-10, f, f, f, f) (f, 67.00, f, f, f, f);
6. Matt Denny (Aus) 218-1 (66.47)
(201-11, 214-11, 217-6, 215-1, 214-10, 218-1) (61.55, 65.50, 66.29, 65.56, 65.49, 66.47);
7. Alin Alexandru Firfirica (Rom) 215-1 (65.57)
(213-7, 209-4, 205-4, f, f, 215-1) (65.10, 63.80, 62.58, f, f, 65.57);
8. Alex Rose (AmS) 215-1 (65.57)
(215-1, 210-6, 208-0, 206-0, f, 200-8) (65.57, 64.17, 63.41, 62.78, f, 61.16);
9. Fedrick Dacres (Jam) 212-9 (64.85)
(212-9, 207-6, 212-6) (64.85, 63.25, 64.79);
10. Lukas Weißhaidinger (Aut) 209-11 (63.98)
(202-6, 209-11, 204-10) (61.72, 63.98, 62.45);
11. Sam Mattis (US) 207-3 (63.19)
(199-9, 207-3, 206-1) (60.89, 63.19, 62.82);
12. Traves Smikle (Jam) 204-2 (62.23)
(f, 204-2, f) (f, 62.23, f).
| * = progression of the leading throw; ¶ = athlete’s best of the day | |||
| first 3 rounds | |||
| Ståhl | 66.59* | 65.99 | f |
| Firfirica | 65.10 | 63.80 | 62.58 |
| Denny | 61.55 | 65.50 | 66.29 |
| Dacres | 64.85¶ | 63.25 | 64.79 |
| Rose | 65.57¶ | 64.17 | 63.41 |
| Weißhaidinger | 61.72 | 63.98¶ | 62.45 |
| Smikle | f | 62.23¶ | f |
| Čeh | 65.27 | 69.02* | 71.13*¶ |
| Alekna | 66.64* | 67.87 | 67.28 |
| Pettersson | f | 67.00¶ | f |
| Gudžius | 67.31* | 66.06 | f |
| Mattis | 60.89 | 63.19¶ | 62.82 |
| rounds 4 & 5 | |||
| Firfirica | f | f | |
| Rose | 62.78 | f | |
| Denny | 65.56 | 65.49 | |
| Ståhl | 65.39 | 67.10¶ | |
| Pettersson | f | f | |
| Gudžius | 67.55¶ | f | |
| Alekna | 69.27¶ | f | |
| Čeh | 68.95 | 70.51 | |
| last round | |||
| Firfirica | 65.57¶ | ||
| Rose | 61.16 | ||
| Denny | 66.47¶ | ||
| Pettersson | f | ||
| Ståhl | 66.86 | ||
| Gudžius | f | ||
| Alekna | f | ||
| Čeh | 67.57 | ||
QUALIFYING
(July 17; auto-qualifier 216-6/66.00)
Qualifiers: Alekna 226-1 (68.91), Čeh 223-10 (68.23), Pettersson 223-5 (68.11), Denny (Aus) 219-9 (66.98), Gudžius 218-6 (66.60), Weißhaidinger 218-2 (66.51), Ståhl 216-4 (65.95), Mattis, 215-2 (65.59), Firfirica 215-0 (65.54), Dacres 211-7 (64.49), Smikle 210-8 (64.21), Rose 210-5 (64.14);
Non-Qualifiers: Lawrence Okoye (GB) 208-6 (63.57), Nicholas Percy (GB) 207-4 (63.20), Marek Bárta (CzR) 206-4 (62.90), Apostolos Parellis (Cyp) 204-11 (62.46), Martin Wierig (Ger) 204-4 (62.28), Andrew Evans (US) 204-1 (62.20), Henrik Janssen (Ger) 202-11 (61.85), Claudio Romero (Chl) 202-4 (61.69), Philip Milanov (Bel) 201-8 (61.47), Mario A. Díaz (Cub) 199-7 (60.83), Martin Marković (Cro) 198-9 (60.59), Victor Hogan (SA) 198-6 (60.51), Chad Wright (Jam) 197-10 (60.31), Mauricio Ortega (Col) 196-6 (59.91), Werner Visser (SA) 191-9 (58.44), Brian Williams (US) 191-1 (58.25), Torben Brandt (Ger) 177-6 (54.11);… nm—Lucas Nervi (Chl).