Two-time shot put world champion David Storl receives a farewell at the German Indoor Championships

After announcing the end of his career, two-time shot put world champion David Storl was bid farewell at the start of the German Indoor Championships in Leipzig. The 33-year-old family man was a guarantor of titles and medals in German athletics for many years.

"I'm really happy to be able to watch from up here and let the athletes do their thing," said the local hero at the start of the title fights as co-commentator of the women's shot put competition. "Great as an athlete - just as great as a person, a family man, a father. You leave us a little perplexed. We are looking for the new David," said German federation president Jürgen Kessing.

Storl won his last national title in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in 2022 and had not competed for 20 months. The 2012 Olympic silver medallist explained that it had become difficult after a slipped disc in 2021.

The big favorite, Yemisi Ogunleye, secured the first title. The Mannheim native is currently ranked third in the world this indoor season with 19.57 meters. The 25-year-old, who finished tenth at the World Championships, can therefore also have high hopes for the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in two weeks' time. In Leipzig, 18.91 meters was enough for the rotational shot putter to win her first championship title. Ogunleye decided not to attempt the last two times after she said that she felt pain in her knee. Defending champion Sara Gambetta from Halle/Saale ended her career a month ago.

The other competitions in Leipzig will take place this Saturday and Sunday. The shot put had been outsourced to make it the center of attention. A few hundred spectators watched the competitions free of charge. "That really pushed us all today," said Ogunleye.