Reigning Olympic champion.
But Daniel Ståhl was completely without a World Cup medal.
He ended up off the podium after great drama.
– Of course you are lacquer and frustrated, he says.
Daniel Ståhl is the discus’ big star, but this season has been up and down and not directly flawless. He has also faced tough competition for the place as world number one, especially from the Slovenian Kristjan Ceh – and it was a highly dramatic World Cup final.
Great drama
Ståhl did not get the start of the competition he wanted at all, but in the third round he hit with a giant throw. The throw measured 69.16 meters, a good distance from Ståhl’s highest level, but a result that had given gold in Tokyo at the Olympics last summer. That would have been enough for a medal in this World Cup final. Then came the shock message.
After the judges examined the throw, it was discovered that Ståhl, with the smallest possible margin, stepped outside the ring with his heel. Sweden was the first to submit a protest against the decision.
“I have been in the video review with the referees and it was unfortunately a trampling with the smallest possible margin”, says national team captain Kajsa Bergqvist to Expressen.
“Lacquer and frustrated”
Almost immediately after Ståhl’s condemned throw, the Slovenian Kristjan Ceh struck with a monster throw of 71.13. A new World Cup record, and Ståhl had a hard time answering.
– I felt a little shocked of course. Then it’s just a matter of not getting negative and getting angry. It’s about taking the next roll and so on. But it was not that dangerous. I tried to recharge properly. I was not disappointed or shocked like that, he says.
Ståhl never managed to increase and he missed the podium.
– Of course you are lacquer and frustrated. We have a slogan that says: “you can be angry for an hour, then life goes on”. There is not much you can do, says Ståhl.
Simon Pettersson, who convinced in the qualifiers, also missed the podium with a fifth place.
READ MORE: Great Swedish fear before the quarter-finals – the star’s honest words: “It is worrying”