Athletics World Championships 19.8.–27.8. Ylen channels. See the schedule and broadcast information of the games at this link.
In the 2018 Tampere Under-20 World Championships Anna Hall was still an unknown name. The 17-year-old competitor was in the company of athletes two years older than him, ninth in the 7-match with a modest score of 5,655.
Five years later, Hall has the fifth highest score of all time with 6,988, which he achieved in May at the traditional all-around event in Götzis, Austria.
The American, born in 2001, will go to the World Championships in Budapest as the biggest advance favorite. Especially now, when the sport has been dominated by Belgium in recent years Nafissatou Thiam is out due to Achilles tendon problems.
Fierce competitor
Hall’s profit development has been incredible in the last couple of years. Before last year, his record was 6,200, but now it is almost 800 points more. For example, Finland’s fighting talent Saga Vanninen has played (6,391) in his twenties more than Hall, a couple of years older, at the same age.
In the 2021 Olympic year, Hall’s record would probably have been even better had he not been injured in the 7s at the US Championships. According to the young athlete, the injury was rather a turning point in his career.
Last summer, he achieved his first adult competition medal, World Championship bronze, with his then-record series of 6,755.
– To be honest, I don’t think I would have been able to do what I did last year if I hadn’t had that injury, Hall said this year in an interview with the International Olympic Committee.
Halli has a diverse background in sports. Sports expert Jaakko Ojaniemi believes that, along with health, it is one of the most important reasons behind the development improvement of roima.
Ojaniemi says that when looking at Hall’s match records, attention is drawn to the sport records. Four of the seven sports performances were Hall’s personal records. So it’s a really tough competitor.
– Individual record results will add up to 7,049 points. That is, his success has been quite hard, when he has reached 60 points. The match record is exceptionally close to the sport records, says Ojaniemi.
“A unique athlete”
What is striking about Hall is his running power. In his record match, he cleared the 100-meter hurdles in 12.75, ran the 200-meter hurdles in 22.88, and ran the final event of 800 meters in 2.02.97. Especially the 800 meter record is amazingly hard for the competitor.
Ojaniemi reflects that it is probably the hardest running series of all time.
– I dare to say that he is a unique athlete. I don’t remember anyone ever having such a brutal end of speed and also the ability to run 800 meters hard. Especially that 800 meters is incredibly hard. I don’t think anyone else has run even close to the two-minute mark, Vannistas coached Jesse Jokinen swedish
According to Jokis, lessons could be learned from Hall’s approach in Finland as well. The 800 meter run is typically the least invested.
– I was wondering how that is possible. There, however, it is emphasized that it must also be done. In Finland, we have perhaps been a little careful to practice that kind of thing, Jokinen sees.
Direct words to social media haters
Vanninen was involved in Hall’s record match. Vanninen himself finished 13 points behind in the race A Swedish fairy tale 6,404 from the SE series.
Jokinen drew Hall’s attention to his cheerfulness and relaxation during the match.
– He played the match with a great attitude, but still quite relaxed. There was a smile on my face often, and it didn’t seem too stressful.
Hall radiates cheerfulness and positivity all around. A superstar also has to experience criticism – sometimes very unpleasant kind.
In the spring, Hall took a stand on social media to criticize the appearance of female athletes. On the TikTok service, one commenter wondered if the muscular Hall is a woman or a man.
– Girls don’t have legs like that. He looks like a dude. I can’t tell what gender he is, the comment was heard.
Hall posted a video saying he was fed up with the comments.
– I don’t need such comments!
– Stop telling female athletes that they look like men! Leave it at that. It’s really nasty.
In the video, Hall explained how hard female athletes are already on themselves without feedback from outsiders. He stated that they are under pressure about whether they have too much muscle or need to gain more.
– I’m working so hard to one day win an Olympic medal or set a record, so I have to look strong to get there.
1. Jackie Joyner-Kersee USA 7,291 (-88)
2. Carolina Kluft SWE 7,032 (-07)
3. Nafissatou Thiam BEL 7,013 (-17)
4. Larisa Turchinskaya RUS 7,007 (-89)
5. Anna Hall USA 6,988 (-23)
6. Sabine Braun GER 6,985 (-92)
7. Katarina Johnson-Thompson GBR 6,981 (-19)
8. Jessica Ennis-Hill GBR 6,955 (-12)
9. Sabine John GER 6,946 (-84)
10. Ghadaa Shouaa SYR 6,942 (-96)
For the best ever
The world record for 7 matches is Jackie Joyner-Kerseen 7,291 played in 1988. It has even been considered eternal.
Joyner-Kersee sees that Hall can become the sport’s all-time best.
– I see that he has all the tools to rewrite the record books, Joyner-Kersee commented Sportskeedan by.
According to Jokinen, Hall is the most potential name among the current contestants to challenge the world record. Among other things, the shot put and javelin are sports in which Hall can still pick up good points.
Jokinen, who saw Hall’s match in Götzis, says that the young star still lacks a certain kind of certainty.
– In Götzis, for example, there were some pretty good-looking jumps in the long jump practice, but the competition was not yet ready. If the certainty of matches improves in a few sports and there is a small level-up in the throws, I see him as a potential world record seeker.
– However, they are such hard points that everything needs to fall into place. At this point, however, it is possible for a long time, Jokinen refers to Hall’s potential.
Vanninen, who has won four junior championship golds, is aiming for the adult top of the sport. He dreams of breaking 7,000 points.
Competitors have different special strengths, so copying the top quality of a certain athlete is just a delusion. However, Hall has one thing that Jokinen would like for his coach Vanni.
– Running is really stylish and putting effort into jumping is easy. They always catch the eye and I would love to see them on my own athletes as well. Sagan and Vilman They are being worked on with (Itälinna) to reach the same readings.
The women’s heptathlon starts at 11:35 on Saturday. See the entire competition program here.
Correction 8/18/2023 at 07:57: Vanninen finished 13 points clear of the Swedish SE series, not his own SE series.