Over hurdles to Paris

Styrian at the Olympics? A child prodigy gives hope!

Enzo Diessl has not yet written off the 2024 Olympics.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

The Styrian Athletics Association has hot irons in the fire when it comes to the Olympics. With Karin Strametz and Viktoria Willhuber, two women could be heading to Paris. And with child prodigy Enzo Diessl, who was one of the world's top young athletes, there is another hope.

Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships - an exciting outdoor season with numerous highlights awaits the Styrian Athletics Association. After a strong indoor season with 28 medals (four gold, four silver and four bronze in the general class) at national championships, hopes are justified.

In the Bahamas for a ticket
Because with hurdler Karin Strametz, for example, they have a very hot iron in the fire. On the first weekend in May, she will be competing with her Styrian team colleague Viktoria Willhuber and two other women at the World Relay Championships in the Bahamas. There are a total of 16 starting places for the Olympics up for grabs. And the train to Paris is still a long way off in the singles.

Karin Strametz (left) wants to jump on the Olympic train.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

No more so than for Enzo Diessl! The 19-year-old was the absolute world leader in the junior class. "In the general class, that's my goal in three or four years. It's a long-term project and not designed for short-term success," says the Leibnitz native, who still has his sights set on the limit on June 30. And he emphasizes: "Of course I'd like to be there in Paris, I'm absolutely confident of that. But I can't plan it." Big but: "To be at the Olympics at the age of 20 would be a big exclamation mark!"

Enzo Diessl's career has been a real "work of art" so far.(Bild: Michael Gratzer)

It should be ready by 2028 in Los Angeles at the latest. He has also shortened his approach to the hurdles by one step to seven. "It will certainly take another five years to perfect the technique. But I'm on the right track. As long as my performance curve is pointing upwards, as is currently the case, I'm happy." And who knows: he still has two and a half months left this year.