Norway’s Markus Rooth pulls off upset for gold in males’s decathlon

A gold medal for Norway within the males’s decathlon isn’t one thing many Norwegians may have predicted, however 22-year-old Markus Rooth has grow to be the 2024 Olympic champion in Paris. He scored a nationwide document of 8,796 factors to win the nation’s first medal on the Paris 2024 Video games.

Rooth had an error-free two days of competitors, setting private bests in 4 of the 5 second-day occasions: the pole vault, javelin throw, discus throw and 110m hurdles. Germany’s Leo Neugebauer took silver, with a rating of 8,748 factors, and Grenada’s Linden Victor rounded out the rostrum for bronze with a rating of 8,711 factors.

At 22, Rooth is the second youngest Olympic decathlon champion in historical past, behind solely 1948 Olympic champion Bob Mathias (USA), who received gold at age 17.

Markus RoothMarkus Rooth
Markus Rooth of Norway takes gold within the males’s decathlon at Paris 2024. Photograph: Nick Iwanyshyn

Earlier than these Olympics, Rooth’s greatest decathlon end at a significant championship was eighth, on the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, the place Canada’s Pierce LePage and Damian Warner took house gold and silver. LePage didn’t compete on the Paris Olympics attributable to harm, and Warner dropped out of the decathlon on Saturday after eight occasions.

Damian Warner’s Olympic medal hopes dashed in decathlon

Within the eighth occasion, Warner was in second place, with 6,428 factors, trailing solely Neugebauer. Sadly, Warner failed all three pole vault makes an attempt at his beginning peak of 4.60 metres, leading to a “no peak” and incomes 0 factors.

That is the primary time Warner has not accomplished a decathlon at an Olympic Video games. He completed fifth in London 2012, received bronze in Rio 2016 and claimed gold at Tokyo 2020.


Athletics occasions on the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games are going down from Aug. 1-11. At this time’s protection is delivered to you by Canadian Operating and New Steadiness Canada. Observe us on Twitter on Instagram for all issues Group Canada and up-to-date unique information and content material.

 

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