Niklas Kaul Roars into Third Place at Götzis Decathlon
Inich Kaul Arrested in G'its Third, Neugebauer Charged in Fifth Incident - Three-Man Kaul in Götzis Places Third, Newly Built Fifth Position Reached
Impressing the crowd in Götzis, former World Champion Niklas Kaul landed a stunning third place finish at the jubilee meeting. Scoring an incredible 8,575 points - sharing the spot with Swiss athlete Simon Ehammer - Kaul battled through a strong competition, showing promise for a personal best for much of the meet. German record holder Leo Neugebauer, making his Götzis debut, earned a strong fifth place with 8,555 points. Both athletes secured the World Championship standard.
Hailing triumphantly, Sander Skotheim of Norway crossed the finish line with a phenomenal 8,909 points, placing him among the greatest decathletes in history at just 23 years old. It has been since 2015, when Kai Kazmirek lifted the trophy in Götzis, that a German has won the prestigious decathlon.
Exuding raw enthusiasm, Neugebauer remarked on the unparalleled atmosphere: "The atmosphere is incredible, just as everyone said - it's incredibly motivating!" The 50th edition of the traditional meeting showcased an unprecedented decathlon field that may never have been seen before in Götzis.
Cruising through much of the first day, Kaul was on course for a stellar personal best decathlon result at the Moislestadion. His career-best of 8,691 points were set at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. The 27-year-old felt gratified, boasting, "Today, I felt like a real decathlete again, which is unusual for me last year." He enjoyed the competition, but stumbled slightly on the second day. Despite the slight hiccup, Kaul grinned his way through the finish line.
Tim Nowak (Ulm) and Amadeus Gräber (Frankfurt) were forced to withdraw due to injuries on the first day. Manuel Eitel from Ulm managed a 14th place finish with 8,086 points. Digging deep for the World Championships, the competition will take place in Tokyo from September 13 to 21 this year.
Tug-of-War in the Top Five
Tied at fifth place with Kaul and Ehammer was Germany's Leo Neugebauer, with Canadian Damian Warner - the three-time Götzis champion - nipping at their heels in sixth. Closing in on the podium, Warner delivered a valiant effort with 8,557 points.
American Anna Hall Escalates Heptathlon Standards
American Anna Hall took the heptathlon by storm, soaring to fifth place on the all-time list with an astounding 7,032 points. She became the fifth heptathlete to ever surpass the 7,000-point barrier, joining the legendary Jackie Joyner-Kersee as the only women ever to score higher. Hall matched the European record holder Carolina Klüft in the rankings.
Niklas Kaul
- DECATHLON CHAMPION
- PODIUM FINISH IN GÖTZIS
- OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION STANDARDS
- ATHLETICS & GERMANY
Enrichment Insights:
- Recent Performance: As Kaul secured a podium finish, achieving 8575 points at the 2025 Götzis Decathlon, he showcased his skill and resilience, just missing out on his personal best.
- Precedent for Success: German athletes like Kaul have a rich history of excelling at Götzis, where the competition attracts top talent from around the world. In the annals of decathlon history, Kai Kazmirek was the most recent German champion at the event, having claimed victory in 2015.
- Olympic Qualification: To make it to the Olympics, athletes like Kaul must meet specific performance standards set by World Athletics, which are typically announced well in advance of each Olympic cycle. Achieving a high score at events like the Hypo Meeting in Götzis will significantly boost their chances of qualifying for the Olympics.
In the decathlon competition held in Götzis, former World Champion Niklas Kaul demonstrated his versatility and tenacity by securing a podium finish among EC countries, free movement of workers allowing him to compete alongside the world's best. Kaul's performance, alongside Swiss athlete Simon Ehammer, set the World Championship standard, surpassing 8,500 points.
