Weißhaidinger considers withdrawal: lumbago jeopardizes European Championship start

In the conversation, Weißhaidinger no longer ruled out sitting out the start. "Dann ergibt die EM für mich keinen Sinn", he said according to the OÖNachrichten with a view to a possible withdrawal should the complaints persist. The wording underscores that the thrower from the Innviertel considers a start in Birmingham only worthwhile if he can compete for his performance there and realistically fight for top placings.

Background: Europe's discus elite

The discus throw has traditionally been one of the strongest disciplines in the Austrian Athletics Association, and Weißhaidinger has belonged to the international elite there for years. As the available reports show, he has in the past already beaten both the Lithuanian Alekna and the Swede Stahl. However, he did not want to give a concrete prognosis for the European Championship competition: "Man kann im Vorfeld oft schwer sagen, wie sich so ein Wettkampf entwickelt", the athlete is quoted as saying.

The starting position for the upcoming tournament is challenging overall. With Birmingham, the discus throwers face a competition in which the European rivals are closely matched. Should Weißhaidinger actually be absent, the Austrian Athletics Association (ÖLV) would lose one of its medal hopes for the championships. The association had nominated a record 24-strong squad for the European Championships in Birmingham – the largest delegation Austria has ever sent to a European Athletics Championships.

ÖLV with record squad

That the injury alters the ÖLV team's sporting planning is evident. The program around the European Championships is tailored to the key performers, to whom Weißhaidinger undoubtedly belongs. Should he have to drop out at short notice, the association would have only a few days for a re-nomination or adjustment of the squad lineup.

The available sources report only briefly on the nature and exact timing of the injury and on the course of treatment so far. All that is known is that the complaints are acutely hindering the athlete in his preparation and that he is therefore openly questioning a possible participation in the competition. Updates from the thrower's camp, for example from his home club in Andorf or from the immediate circle of coach Sepp Schopf, were not documented in the evaluated reports.

Open decision about start

The coming days will thus become the decision-making phase. If the lumbago persists, a withdrawal is likely. Should the recovery proceed faster than expected, Weißhaidinger could still take up his starting place in Birmingham. A final decision had not been made at the editorial deadline of the evaluated reports.

In the overall assessment, it becomes clear: the injury comes at a stage in which every training session counts for rhythm. Weißhaidinger himself appears determined in the interview not to take any risks that would jeopardize his longer-term sporting development – at the same time, Birmingham is a stage he has worked toward over many years and on which he wants to measure himself against the European competition.