Paul Fajdek took fifth place, and Wojciech Nowicki – seventh place in the hammer throw final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This is the first Olympics since 2012 where neither of these two won a medal. Nowicki, the Olympic champion from three years ago, is particularly hurt by this, Tokyo.
Nowicki threw only 77.42 m at the Stade de France on Sunday. This is very poor for a thrower who has exceeded 80 meters this season and came to the Games with the second best result in the world. Nowicki fell far short of the podium – the bronze medal went to the Ukrainian Kochan with a result of 79.39 m.
For Nowicki, this is the first major event in his career where he did not win a medal. He had previously series 11 appearances in championship events and 11 medals won.
It is very sad to see Nowicki suffering and to hear his self-pitying statements.
– I don't know what went wrong. I have no idea. I felt prepared, mentally well-disposed, but in the circle I had zero feeling. I don't know, I have no idea why. I won't even make excuses, I know that the start was completely below expectations. I'm sorry I let it down. The Olympic podium was within reach, but I couldn't handle it technically. I'm sorry. I know I screwed up. All over. What more can I say? – we hear.
– I felt that I couldn't accelerate in the circle. And if you don't accelerate, you won't get a good result. There was complete emptiness, zero feeling and that's why, despite my best efforts, I couldn't improve anything. I apologize again. fansthat I failed, says Nowicki.
Nowicki bitterly. “A certain era has ended”
The Tokyo Olympic champion assures that he has prepared thoroughly for the fight for another medal. – I felt good, even fantastic. Maybe Asia [trenerka Joanna Fiodorow] tell me what I did wrong. I have no idea. Emptiness, complete emptiness. The trainer advised me something, and I felt nothing. I tried, but nothing changed – he says.
– A certain era has ended, the streak of bringing home medals has ended. I would like to sit down, talk to Asia and correct these mistakes. In a year there will be the World Championships, I would like to prepare, because I don't want to give up yet, I don't want to give up my position. Now it didn't work out, it's a pity that it was at the most important event, but I don't want to end my career yet.
Nowicki flagellates himself. “There was misery”
Nowicki didn't want to think ahead to the next Olympics. “I'm not thinking about Los Angeles. I'm 35 and I'm aware that I don't know what I'll be doing in four years. For the last two years, we've been making plans only from year to year. Let's not kid ourselves, today there are 22-, 23- and 26-year-olds on the Olympic podium, and I'm 35. The season has shown that I'm still capable of throwing far. But I don't know how much longer I'll be able to,” he says.
– It was misery. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. What happened that didn't work out? I have no idea. If there are any negative comments, I'll have to swallow it, I'll take it on the chest, because I know I didn't cope. I felt helpless. Until the last round I tried to add something to the score, but I made six throws that were simply hopeless – he adds.
– Everything looked promising during the tests. I felt that my form had come. I was light, dynamic. But I have no idea why I didn't feel the equipment at all. I wanted to give all my strength, all my energy, but it didn't work out at all. It's sad. I have to sort this out in my head and keep working. I'm not giving up yet, I believe that I can still throw at the level of 80 meters. I just have to talk to my coach calmly. I know that I'm repeating myself – Nowicki ends.