There are still a few meters to the absolute world top.
But with a fresh SM gold in the bag, Daniel Ståhl is hopeful ahead of the OS in Paris.
I feel like I'm on the upswing, says the discus star.
Daniel Ståhl is the reigning World Champion and has an OS gold to defend when the discus competition is decided at Stade de France, with qualifying on August 5 and the final on August 7.
At the European Championship in Rome recently, the Swedish discus star had to settle for fourth place, after his best throw stopped at 66.84 meters.
It's clear that I'm a bit frustrated, but also hungrier than ever, he said then.
On the other hand, the European Championship came a bit too early in the season. The real form peak shouldn't arrive until about a month from now, in Paris.
Moreover, it really took off last year, when Ståhl hit his season-best 71.46 in the last throw of the World Championship final, a performance he later also received the Bragdguldet for.
"With bear strength"
In the latest competitions, Daniel Ståhl has had to settle for throws around 65 meters. That's how it was in the SM final at Rimnersvallen in Uddevalla as well.
Daniel Ståhl sent his discus 64.44 meters away already in the first throw.
That was enough to take an early and firm grip on the SM gold. He then increased to 65.59 in the second and won the competition.
I want to feel what I do in training: long movements with bear strength. Now I'm a bit too short in my movements in competitions, he says.
But there's a lot of power, I'm basically throwing with my arm today, 65 and a half. When I get my legs involved, it'll be even longer.
Tough for Pettersson
For Simon Pettersson, the SM final was much tougher. It was still a clear silver, but the OS silver medalist from Tokyo stopped at a relatively modest 61.83 meters.
That makes an OS ticket seem quite far away.
The disappointment was clear, and afterwards Simon Pettersson declined all interview requests.
I feel like I need to deal with this myself first, he says.
Daniel Ståhl sympathizes with his former training partner.
It's not easy with sports, it's a lot of sports psychology. Everything has to click in 0.9 seconds in the ring, timing, technique, physical, says Ståhl.
But I hope he keeps going for the rest of the summer and throws really far.
