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The inaugural World Athletics Championships in Helsinki in 1983
presented Daley Thompson with a unique opportunity - to become the first
person to hold Olympic, European, Commonwealth and World titles
simultaneously for any event. There was one main obstacle, however and
that came in the form of the new World Record holder Jurgen Hingsen of
West Germany. Hingsen had stolen Thompson's record at the German trial
with 8779pts. and despite losing to Daley in the European Championships
the previous year he was considered by some to be the favourite. Daley
had suffered a back injury followed by a groin strain and was even
doubtful right up to the start of the event. But Daley was "up for the
event". One of the great competitors of modern track and field, he was
not going to miss this one.
The first day, Thompson's opening 100m. of
10.60sec. put him 96pts. ahead and in a neck and neck contest with
Hingsen he all but maintained his advantage in, at times, appalling
conditions. Day two was similar with the German failing to live up to
expectations whilst Daley "ambushed" him in the event Hingsen should
have won, the discus, (D.T. 44.46sec. & J.H. 43.30sec.) and in the
pole vault (photo above) where Daley equalled his decathlon best
with 5.10m. for which his score was 1075pts. (JH's score was 1028). By
the end Daley was in full control with 8666pts. 105 more than Jurgen and
in every sense "Champion of the World". Hingsen said at the conclusion
of the two days "Daley is truly the greatest among us, for he has no
weaknesses". Result: 1st - Daley Thompson (GBR) 8666pts. 2nd - Jurgen
Hingsen (FRG) 8561pts. 3rd - Siedfried Wentz (FRG) 8478pts. (G.H.)
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