In a year that has seen him break 80 metres for the first time, 23-year-old German hammer thrower Merlin Hummel is on track for his best-ever season in the sport, zeroing in on the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo 13-21 September.
The european-athletics.com columnist has been invited to make his Diamond League debut in Silesia on Saturday (16). He brings us up to speed on his busy competition schedule including the World University Games, competing in Budapest and hanging out with the Olympic champion, whilst continuing to develop his throws app.
Getting the call to compete in my first Diamond League
When I got the call to compete in Silesia, I was torn. My manager phoned me on the Monday before the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest (12) to say there was a late opening in the Diamond League on Saturday (16).
At first, I wanted to say no. My head was fully on training and preparing for the World Athletics Championships, and every trip takes away days I could spend getting the technique just right.
But then I thought about it again. Competing is also training, just in a different way. It tests the mind, not just the body. So, I said yes.
Now here I am, about to make my Diamond League debut in front of 35,000 fans in Poland. It feels surreal. The atmosphere is going to be electric, and I can already feel the nerves and excitement mixing together.
Screen time distraction
It has been a very busy week. On 12 August, I competed in Budapest at the Gyulai István Memorial, where I finished fourth.
I had a choice: stay to train or head straight into another competition. In the end, I decided the experience of back-to-back meetings could be valuable, a chance to apply what I’ve been working on in training.
This summer has already been full of lessons. At the FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr on 23 July, I took silver behind Mykhaylo Kokhan of Ukraine with 77.03m. Throwing at home in Germany was special, even if I was frustrated by a few technical issues.
A giant screen was placed directly in front of the circle, and it distracted me every time I swung. I let that affect me mentally, and it reminded me how important it is to stay calm and trust the throw.
Then came the German Championships in Dresden on 3 August. I managed 78.17m for the win, which felt good—closer to the 80m I’m chasing. Still, the key for me is to stop pulling on the hammer with my shoulder.
Whenever I tense up, the throw just doesn’t fly. The more relaxed I am, the further it goes. That’s what I’ve been drilling all season: letting the hammer go.
Hanging out with the best hammer throwers
Here in Silesia, I’ve been rooming with Yann Chaussinand from France. We can’t talk much—his English isn’t great, my French is worse—but we get along just fine.
Most of the time we’re out training, recovering, or at physio, so the room is mainly for sleep. I’ve also been hanging out with Ethan Katzberg, the Canadian Olympic and world champion. Being around guys like him pushes me on. It reminds me what’s possible.
Outside the circle, I’ve been working hard on my throws app. It’s in the testing phase now, and I’m hoping to release the beta soon. When I’m traveling, I use the time to code and fix errors. So, it’s athletics and the app—that’s my life right now.
Big brother
And then there’s my brother, Matt. I was proud to watch him compete at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Tampere. He finished 14th, just missing out on the final. He’s still young and figuring out his technique, but he has big throws in him.
We train together a lot and it’s a good partnership. I try to pass on what I’ve learned, and he pushes me too. We’re competitive, but in a supportive way. I know how motivated he is, and I believe next year he’ll make a big step forward.
So, here I am. A busy summer behind me, a big Diamond League debut ahead. I know the Polish fans will bring the noise, and I can’t wait to step into that circle and show what I can do.