Franka Dietzsch of Germany celebrates winning the Discus Throw in Osaka (© Getty Images)
In theory Franka Dietzsch could have retired from competition after her very first throw. That came down at 66.61m and it remained the best in the whole competition.
“This is crazy since it is my third world title,” said Dietzsch, who at 39 defended the Discus Throw title she had won in Helsinki two years ago. “I was the second oldest in the field and beat all the young girls once again.”
With her first throw, Dietzsch had caused an obvious shock to the other competitors. “That was what I intended to do after I had seen the start list,” said Dietzsch, who was the third to throw. “My coach told me to do it as I did in Helsinki in 2005. I had a very good first throw there as well and won – so that is what I did again.”
Two years ago she had thrown 64.89m and then further improved to 66.56m – but again her first throw would have been enough for the gold as well.
Originally Dietzsch had predicted that the fight for gold would be a very close one, to be decided by the daily form and by who would cope best with the pressure. But she did not let that happen.
“I realised after my opening that for a long time there was not much happening.” said Dietzsch, who then added a 66.48m in the second round. It was not until round five that the eventual silver medallist, Russian Darya Pishchalnikova, produced a throw beyond 65m. “During the competition some the other throwers came to me and congratulated me on winning. But I said, ‘Hey wait girls, this is not over yet. Always wait until the last throw.”
When it was all over she took out two small stuffed animals from her backpack. “They are my lucky charms, and they are always in the backpack during competitions. If I am successful in the end I take them out.”
Dietzsch, who comes from Neubrandenburg, a small city between Berlin and the Baltic Sea, has been guided to her international successes by Dieter Kollark. It is the same coach who also guided the career of Olympic Shot Put champion Astrid Kumbernuss. The new German Shot Put hope, Petra Lammert, who finished fifth in Osaka, had joined Kollark last year.
Almost decided against defending title
“He is the best discus coach in the world,” Dietzsch said. It was Kollark who insisted that Dietzsch should go to Osaka when she was thinking of not defending her title due to recent Achilles tendon problems. Dietzsch had a great start to the season when she threw the world leading 68.06m in May. But that was at Germany’s Halle meeting which year by year offers ideal conditions for throwers since it is not in a stadium. In June and July Dietzsch’s form was weaker and she set her goal for Osaka on winning a medal.
But when she went to the training camp in Kienbaum, east of Berlin, pains in the Achilles became so strong that she was unable to do proper training. “I could barely walk, I was going to the training ground on a bike. And when I was throwing I did not rotate at all. I really thought of cancelling the trip to Osaka. And it was not before I was here that I did proper discus throwing again. Tonight I needed some injections to be without pain. But it was all worth it and my coach was right once again.”
Berlin 2009 is on the schedule
Apart from the injury problem, Dietzsch’s situation is much more professional than compared to two years ago. She used to work as a clerk in a bank in Neubrandenburg but has now been granted a sort of sponsorship by the bank, meaning that she has no longer turn up for work.
“They have allowed me to fully concentrate on the sport until the 2008 Olympics,” she said. And that might well be extended for another year since the next World Championships will be held in Berlin, which is little more than an hour’s drive from Neubrandenburg. “Accordingly to the situation, my training was generally better than last year,” said Dietzsch, who took silver at the European Championships last year.
It was a record ninth consecutive appearance for Franka Dietzsch. Only one other athlete has competed in as many World Championships: 800m runner Maria Mutola. Thus if Dietzsch competes in Berlin at age 41, that would be her tenth championships.
“In the German team some athletes could be my children,” she said. “But the atmosphere is fine, I have no problem. As long as I stay healthy I will continue. And as long as I am still winning there is no reason to retire.”
“I had promised my coach to walk with him on the Great Wall of China. So I have to focus on the Olympics although I never did very well there. The World Championships have always been my event.” So far she has been twelfth (1992), fourth (1996) and sixth (2000) at the Olympics and missed qualifying for the final in 2004.
And Berlin 2009 is also on the schedule. “There is not much I can do since it is a home game,” she said. “But I promise that I won’t be around in London 2012.”
Jörg Wenig for the IAAF
