Swiss stars Ehammer and Kälin shine with record-breaking victories at Hypo Meeting Götzis
Simon Ehammer and Annik Kälin completed a memorable Swiss double at the 51st edition of the Hypo Meeting Götzis on Sunday, producing world-leading performances and national records in front of a packed crowd at the legendary Mösle Stadium, widely regarded as the home of combined events.
Ehammer secured the biggest victory of his career by winning the men's decathlon with a world-leading and Swiss record score of 8,778 points. The 25-year-old Swiss star capped a remarkable weekend that included a world decathlon long jump best of 8.51m on Saturday, holding off a strong challenge from reigning world champion Leo Neugebauer of Germany, who finished second with 8,730 points. Former world champion Nicklas Kaul placed third with 8,528 points, while eight-time Götzis champion Damian Warner finished fourth on 8,497 points.
After ending the opening day with a historic 4,732 points, Ehammer maintained control throughout Sunday's events. He started the day by winning the 110m hurdles in 13.48 before limiting losses to Neugebauer in the discus throw and continuing his strong campaign in the pole vault, where he cleared 5.20m.
The competition remained finely balanced heading into the final two events. Kaul produced a meeting-record throw of 78.21m in the javelin, while Neugebauer reduced the gap to Ehammer. However, the Swiss athlete entered the concluding 1500m with a comfortable advantage and safely crossed the finish line in 4:43.22 to secure his first Hypo Meeting title.
"We were focusing on being better everywhere than last year, then a very good result would definitely come out of it," said Ehammer. "It's the first peak of the season. I was looking forward to Götzis because I love this meeting. It's the perfect way to start the outdoor season."
The women's heptathlon produced an equally dramatic contest as Kälin overturned an overnight deficit to claim victory with a Swiss record and world-leading score of 6,726 points.
The Swiss all-rounder delivered one of the finest long jump performances ever seen in a heptathlon, opening with 6.81m before soaring to a meeting-record 6.96m in the second round. The jump erased a 31-year-old meeting record and propelled Kälin from second place into the overall lead.
Olympic bronze medallist Emma Oosterwegel of the Netherlands mounted a strong challenge on the second day, highlighted by a season's best 52.50m in the javelin and victory in the 800m in 2:09.19. However, Kälin held her nerve to retain the lead and secure the overall title by just 25 points.
Oosterwegel finished second with a personal best of 6,701 points, while world indoor pentathlon champion Sofie Dokter completed a successful weekend for the Netherlands in third with a lifetime best of 6,627 points. Germany's Sophie Weißenberg marked her return from a serious Achilles injury with fourth place, also scoring 6,627 points.
Italy's Sveva Gerevini improved her national record to 6,413 points to finish fifth, while Vanessa Grimm placed sixth with a lifetime best of 6,381 points.
Kälin's victory represented a major breakthrough for the Swiss athlete, who won silver medals in the long jump at both the European and World Indoor Championships earlier this year and finished fourth at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
"The distance in the long jump is simply incredible. I still can't quite believe it," Kälin said. "Winning here in Götzis, in the temple of combined events, and doing so with a national record means so much to me. After last year's injury, putting together seven strong performances is a dream come true."
The 2026 edition of the Hypo Meeting once again lived up to its reputation as the world's premier combined events competition, producing two world-leading scores, multiple national records and a series of outstanding performances from many of the sport's biggest stars.
