One of Canada’s best bets for Olympic gold is out of medal contention after a stunning result.
Decathlete Damian Warner didn’t record a height in the pole vault, faulting on all three attempts at 4.60 metres in the eighth event of the competition on Saturday in Paris. The Canadian was second in the overall standings entering the event.
Warner won Olympic gold in Tokyo three years ago and bronze in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
The native of London, Ont. improved to second place from fourth in the first two events Saturday, finishing first in the 110-metre hurdles and sixth in the discus to close within 78 points of leader Leo Neugebauer of Germany.
But disaster struck in the pole vault, where Warner passed on four previous heights. He has a personal best of 4.80 metres in the pole vault.
Canada was expected to be a double medal contender in decathlon, but reigning world champion Pierce LePage had to drop out with a back injury.
Warner’s medal chances seemed to increase on the eve of the competition when world-record holder Kevin Mayer of France dropped out with a hamstring injury.
Minutes before Warner faulted out, the same thing happened to Norway’s Sander Skotheim, who was in third place.
Canadian decathlete Damian Warner’s hopes of winning an Olympic medal in the decathlon were dashed after he failed to clear a height in the pole vault event. The pole vault is one of the most challenging events in the decathlon, requiring a combination of strength, speed, and technique.
Warner, who was considered a strong contender for a medal in the decathlon, had been performing well in the earlier events of the competition. However, his struggles in the pole vault proved to be his undoing. Despite his best efforts, Warner was unable to clear a height in three attempts, resulting in a score of zero for the event.
The pole vault is a high-risk, high-reward event in the decathlon, and even the most experienced athletes can struggle with it. Warner’s failure to clear a height in the pole vault was a major setback for his medal hopes, as it significantly impacted his overall score in the decathlon.
Despite this disappointment, Warner showed resilience and determination in the remaining events of the decathlon. He continued to compete to the best of his abilities, finishing strong in events such as the javelin throw and the 1500m run.
While Warner ultimately fell short of winning a medal in the decathlon, his performance at the Olympic Games was still commendable. He showcased his talent and athleticism on the world stage, and his dedication to his sport was evident throughout the competition.
Warner’s experience at the Olympics serves as a reminder of the challenges and unpredictability of multi-event competitions like the decathlon. It takes a special kind of athlete to excel in such a demanding event, and Warner’s efforts should be recognized and celebrated, despite his disappointment in not winning a medal.