Thobias Montler stepped into Stade de France, in front of approximately 80,000 spectators, with a good feeling.
Injuries that have plagued the season were under control, and in the rehearsal in Italy, he gave a long-awaited message with 8.01 meters.
But in Paris, a setback came.
Missed final
He did not advance to the Olympic Games final on Tuesday.
— There's not much to say. An extreme disappointment. It became the worst outcome it could be, he says.
I'm supposed to be there, but it didn't work out today. I didn't get it to work.
The 28-year-old started with two straight fouls and then only reached 7.82 – which was eight centimeters from the last qualifying jumper who advanced.
— After the first one, I was confident in myself, I felt that I had it. After the second miss, another type of feeling crept into my body, which I didn't know how to handle. I can only explain it by saying that I lack competition routine.
— This is the first final I've missed since my first European Championship in Prague (2015). It sucks a lot, and to do it here too.
Tough season
Thobias Montler is coming from a tough season marked by injuries. To get his injuries in order, he chose to compete less and also skipped the European Championship in Rome.
Now he doesn't know how the season will continue.
These lengths, I can't mess around with. We need to find a change and get it to work. It's the puzzle piece that needs to be found, he says.
The Swede is clear about one thing, however: He's aiming for the next Olympic Games, in Los Angeles 2028.
I have full focus on four years from now, and then maybe it'll be over. That's where my head is now.
