German javelin star Christina Obergföll will bring an end to her career at the ISTAF meeting in Berlin on Saturday and, for once, it will be about the occasion, not the desire to win.
“I want to enjoy the last competition,” said Obergföll, 35. “No goals, no positions are important.”
She will bow out with a smile on her face after a superb career where she has truly made her mark at the highest level.
Obergföll, who was eighth at the Olympics in Rio last month, retires having reached her greatest height by winning the world title in Moscow in 2013.
An Olympic silver and bronze medallist, Obergföll twice finished second at the European Athletics Championships, in Barcelona in 2010 and Helsinki two years later, and is looking forward to a new challenge as a prevention and health manager.
A crowd of 50,000 is expected at the Olympic Stadium and Obergföll will embrace every moment of it.
She said: “I chose Berlin because the atmosphere in the Olympic Stadium is unique.”
Speaking to bz-berlin.de, Obergföll, whose personal best is 70.20m from 2007, added: “It is strange to know that officially I pick up the spear for the last time on Saturday. It will be very emotional. But at the same time, I am pleased because then I have more time for my son (Marlon, who is two).”
Obergföll threw 62.92m in Rio and she has the chance to go out on a big high – even if winning is not important – as the field includes Croatia’s Sara Kolak, who won Olympic gold with 66.18m.
OBERGFOLL'S CAREER
Olympic Games
Beijing 2008 - Silver (66.13m)
London 2012 - Bronze 65.16m)
World Championships
Helsinki 2005 - Silver (70.03m)
Osaka 2007 - Silver (66.46m)
Moscow 2013 - Gold (69.05m)
European Athletics Championships
Barcelona 2010 - Silver (65.58m)
Helsinki 2012 - Silver (65.12m)