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Daniel StahlSwedish discus thrower
Date of Birth: 27.08.1992
Country:  Sweden |
Content:
- Early Life and Background
- Career Beginnings
- Breakthrough Season in 2017
- Rise to Success
- World Championship Gold in 2019
- Olympic Victory in 2020
Early Life and Background
Daniel Ståhl was born in Karolinska Hospital in Solna, Sweden. His mother, Tyina Ståhl (née Laakso), is originally from Turku, Finland, and moved to Sweden in 1981. Ståhl is fluent in Finnish. Both of his parents were athletes in track and field; his mother won the Swedish discus championship in 1987 and once held the Swedish record (51.90 m). His sister, Anneli Ståhl, is also an active athlete in track and field.
Career Beginnings
Ståhl began his competitive career at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, finishing fifth. He also placed fifth at the 2016 European Championships. At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, he failed to qualify for the final.
Breakthrough Season in 2017
Despite his setback in Rio, Ståhl rebounded at the Swedish Championships in Sollentuna just weeks later. He set a personal best (68.72 m), becoming the world leader in the Olympic season. This mark remained the season's best at the conclusion of 2016.
Rise to Success
In June 2017, Ståhl broke through with a massive throw of 71.29 m, a new personal best and Swedish national record. At the 2017 World Championships in Athletics, he won the silver medal with a throw of 69.19 m, finishing just 2 centimeters behind Andrius Gudžius of Lithuania. He followed this up with a silver medal at the 2018 European Championships in Berlin (68.23 m), again behind Gudžius.
World Championship Gold in 2019
In the lead-up to the 2020 Olympic Games, Ståhl won the gold medal at the World Championships in Athletics in Qatar, throwing 67.59 m.
Olympic Victory in 2020
At the postponed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Ståhl fulfilled his dream of winning an Olympic medal, taking home the gold with a throw of 68.90 m. This victory made him the first Swedish man to win an Olympic title in discus since Lars Haglund in 1952.
