Favorite Gold advances to the final round, featuring Weber
In the heart of the Athletics World Championships in Tokyo, Germany's Julian Weber has emerged as a strong contender for gold in the javelin throw event.
The 28-year-old athlete, who has dominated his discipline this year, qualified for the final with an impressive throw of 87.21 meters in the qualification round. This distance surpassed the qualifying mark of 84.50 meters, setting the stage for an exciting final.
Weber, however, did not seem entirely satisfied with his throw in the qualification round, indicating that he is aiming for even greater heights in the final. The world leader in javelin throw this season, Weber has already thrown the implement over 91 meters, a distance that only Luiz Mauricio da Silva from Brazil and Neeraj Chopra from India have managed to achieve this year.
Meanwhile, Max Heß, Germany's former European champion in triple jump, had a less successful outing. He jumped 16.09 meters in the qualification round, which was not enough to secure a spot in the final. Heß, who has been dealing with injury issues throughout the outdoor season, most notably with his hip, right foot, and left foot, withdrew from the competition after his second of three attempts.
Heß, unlike Weber, is not a medal contender in the Athletics World Championships. His most recent international success came on March 8, 2025, when he took silver in the triple jump at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. Prior to this event, Heß had not won a medal at any major international events.
While Weber is Germany's biggest hope for gold at the championships, it remains to be seen whether he can maintain his form and claim the top spot in the final. The javelin throw final is scheduled for later this week, and all eyes will be on Weber as he aims to secure Germany's first gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
