Norwegian sports fans have been disappointed by the performances of their athletes during the first week of the Summer Olympics in Paris. On Saturday night, though, Markus Rooth finally won gold in the men’s decathlon, prevailing in its combination of 10 track and field events.
Rooth, age 22, had already done well in events leading up to decathlon’s final event, the men’s 1500-meter race Saturday night. State broadcaster reported that he had “a fantastic starting point” after also setting a personal record in the javelin event.
The decathlon combines four races (of 100-, 400- and 1500 meters), three hurdle jumps (long, high and pole vaulting) and three throws of the discus, javelin and shotput. Each event yields points and Rooth emerged with a winning total of 8,796. Leo Neugebauer of Germany won the silver with 8,748 points and Lindon Victor of Grenada took the bronze with 8,711.
Norway hadn’t won an Olympic decathlon since the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp. More gold medals may shine for Norway in the week ahead. The country has a record-large troop in Paris, with world champion runners Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Karsten Warholm expected to do well, along with the Norwegian handball teams and several other medal candidates.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
