For the first time, long jump idol Malaika Mihambo and Co. will take off from the Take-Off-Zone, for the first time, the top shot-putters around Olympic champion Yemisi Ogunleye will be there and for the first time, more than 7500 fans in the PSD BANK DOME will push the athletics stars from all over the world to top performances. The ISTAF INDOOR Düsseldorf on Sunday, 9 February 2025, will be a big premiere party.
‘We are proud to once again welcome so many outstanding athletes and so many fans here in sport-crazy Düsseldorf,’ said meeting director Martin Seeber at today’s media briefing on Friday [7 February].
The focus on Sunday will be on the long jump in particular. Fan idol Malaika Mihambo and her colleagues will be jumping from the so-called Take-Off-Zone for the first time in the PSD BANK DOME. The new long jump variant, which was developed by the World Athletics Association and is being tested for the first time on a large stage in Düsseldorf together with the ISTAF INDOOR, involves ‘taking off’ from a larger zone. In addition, the actual distance jumped will be measured from the tip of the foot. ‘In the end, it can make the long jump more exciting,’ says Malaika Mihambo. ‘Perfect jumps are definitely more likely with the Take-Off-Zone, because we athletes don’t just have to orientate ourselves on the board, but can use all aspects for an optimum take-off point.’ It is important to think about how athletics can be further developed and tested. ‘I’m happy to try it out. To be able to decide: Does it make sense? Is it exciting? Will it make it better?’ says the Olympic champion and multiple world champion (interview with Malaika Mihambo at www.istaf-indoor.de).
World Athletics has analysed numerous data and determined, among other things, that more than 30 percent of attempts at past major events such as the World Championships and European Championships were invalid. The Take-Off-Zone that has now been developed is 40 centimetres long, giving athletes more space for a (valid) take-off. The take-off board (20 cm) and inlay board are replaced by a 34-centimetre-long, white take-off bar (also made of solid wood). In addition, six centimetres of the tartan track will be coloured white to mark the 40-centimetre take-off zone. State-of-the-art cameras measure the actual distance jumped from take-off to landing.
What exactly is measured in Düsseldorf? Both!
The winner of the ISTAF INDOOR will be determined after the long jump with Take-Off-Zone. This data will also be shown on TV and in the PSD BANK DOME. At the same time, the results will be measured according to the applicable rules and recognised by World Athletics. All valid performances achieved in this test will be counted towards the world rankings and qualification. ‘This means that nothing is lost for the athletes – and yet they can try out the new approach that has already been talked about so much,’ says meeting director Martin Seeber.
Eight disciplines, numerous other highlights
The fans will experience numerous other highlights on Sunday. For the first time in the history of the ISTAF INDOOR, the women’s shot put team led by Olympic champion Yemisi Ogunleye (MTG Mannheim) will also take centre stage. ‘It’s great that our discipline is getting such a big stage. I will be showing with the girls how fascinating shot-putting is,’ said the Olympic champion. The pole vault also has a particularly high-calibre line-up. Six Olympic finalists alone will be competing in the PSD BANK DOME. One of the top favourites in the DOME is fan favourite Sam Kendricks (USA), who won Olympic silver in Paris last year. ‘It’s going to be fantastic! Coming to Düsseldorf is always like coming home,’ enthuses the US star.
A total of eight top-class disciplines are on the programme: 60 metres (women/men), 60 metres Para (men), 60 metres hurdles (women/men), long jump with Take-Off-Zone (women), shot put (women) and pole vault (men). The Para sprint starts at 11:40 am. Numerous medallists will be at the start. One of the favourites to win the ISTAF at the sprint summit in Düsseldorf is the exceptional German athlete Felix Streng (Sprintteam Wetzlar). ‘I’m really looking forward to another indoor season and opening the year with the races at the ISTAF INDOOR in Düsseldorf. It’s something very special to compete at this prestigious event in front of a home crowd,’ said the German. The top athlete with a unilateral transtibial amputee, who has already won six Paralympic medals, two of them gold, will face strong international competition in Düsseldorf. Joel de Jong (T63, above-knee amputee), a reigning world champion and another Paralympic winner, will be coming to the ISTAF INDOOR. The 22-year-old Dutchman won the World Championship title in the 100 metres in 2023 and long jump gold at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
