Daniel Ståhl is the reigning Olympic champion.
But he finds it difficult to defend the gold.
That’s what his former coach thinks – who judges the Swede’s chances in Paris.
– It feels empty, he says.
For a few years, Daniel Ståhl could be counted on to challenge for first place in every discus event he competed in. He is the reigning Olympic champion, and as recently as last year he won World Championship gold after defeating Kristjan Ceh in the very last round , with a stellar throw of 71.46.
Slipped far behind
But this year it has looked completely different. In fact, Daniel Ståhl still doesn’t have a throw over 70 meters this season, and Ståhl’s development has gone backwards while his two main competitors have made great strides forward. Both Kristjan Ceh, but especially Mykolas Alekna, have delivered 70-meter sprints regularly during the season, and the latter broke the world record as recently as last spring.
However, Daniel Ståhl has said that his form is on the way and that he does not feel any major worries ahead of the year’s big highlight, the Olympics in Paris. But now comes unexpected and harsh criticism from someone who knows Ståhl better than most. For a full twelve years, from 2011 to 2023, Vesteinn Hafsteinsson was Ståhl’s coach. Nowadays, it is Staffan Jönsson who trains the discus star, and from a distance Hafsteinsson sees how Ståhl’s development has gone in the wrong direction.
Former coach’s harsh words
In an interview with Radiosporten, Ståhl’s former coach believes that Ståhl is far from certain to win a medal during the games in Paris, and that in that case it is bronze he can hope for.
– I really hope that he does well and throws a high 68 and takes bronze. That is my wish, but there is only a 50 percent chance that he will do it, says Hafsteinsson to Radiosporten.
Hafsteinsson points out, among other things, technique and speed as things Ståhl has deteriorated, but he also believes that it feels “empty”.
– I feel that Daniel has worse technique and I feel that he has worse speed, thus less speed in the draft and that is what is most important in the discus. When I see him throw, I feel it’s empty. He hasn’t thrown far at all in most contests. Daniel’s time is running out and I knew it was running out, says Hafsteinsson.
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