Matt Denny ‘really heartbroken’ after finishing fourth in ‘nightmare’ wet discus final at world championships

Australian discus star Matt Denny has been left frustrated after missing the medals but relieved to have avoided injury in disastrous conditions on the final night of the world championships in Tokyo.

Torrential rain made for a slippery circle and led to two long postponements, including one after Denny slipped and gave up on a throw.

He lost his balance on multiple occasions and could only manage a best throw of 65.57m in the third round.

“What a night for athletics, am I right?!” Denny said into the nearby camera at one point.

The Aussie described it as a “war of attrition” and “a bit of a nightmare for everyone”.

“I’m just very fortunate that I came out uninjured, it was sketchy,” he said.

“Tough comp, really heartbreaking and the more that I talk about it with the media and talk about what happened, yeah it hurts. I wanted more and I felt like I’ve never been more ready to win it.

“To have that little bit of nightmare fuel in there — you had to put your big boy pants on and have a crack. We did that and I’m very proud of how I attacked that.

“I didn’t let it get the better of me or get worried about it. Just didn’t go my way and that’s life. Not much I can do about it.”

Denny said he had “no idea” how he stayed in the circle in the fifth round, admitting his technique made things even more difficult to find grip.

He gave himself a chance with some tape on a spare set of shoes while others tried to throw in socks and even barefoot.

Denny said others copped injuries, with one nearly cutting his arm open and copping “an absolute golf ball on the side of his leg”.

“My heart goes out to those guys, full respect to them,” he said.

“The chances of getting a concussion are so high. I’m very fortunate everyone’s walked away without any life-threatening injuries. It was hope for the best and try and find an option that half-works for you and figure it out.”

Denny, ranked No.2 in the world, has had a monster season and felt ready to throw 71 or 72m in dry conditions.

“But shoulda, coulda, woulda, you can wish all you want,” he said.

“That hurts a lot to not be able to display that, to have all this prep and work so hard but I’m not the only one. That hurts a lot, but I’m not the only one.

“I’ve got a lot to excited about, I’m only 29. I’m excited for the future, just a bit devastated I couldn’t display what I have today.”

His excitement for the future extends beyond athletics, with wife Mia due to give birth to their first child in January.

The conditions didn’t trouble Sweden star Daniel Stahl anywhere near as much.

The 2020 Olympic gold medallist and defending world champ franked a dominant display with a huge effort of 70.47m in the final round.

The minor medals went to world record holder Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania (67.84m) and Samoan Alex Rose (66.96m).

Denny’s disappointment was in stark contrast to Australian middle-distance runner Ky Robinson, who just missed out on a shock medal when he finished fourth in the 5000m final.

The US-based Queenslander, who did not even qualify for last year’s Paris Olympics, flew home for fourth in 12 minutes 59.61 seconds, less than three tenths of a second behind French bronze medallist and 10,000m world champ Jimmy Gressier.

The gold went to Olympic 1500m champ Cole Hocker, from the US, in 12:58.30, a week after he was disqualified from the metric mile in Tokyo.

“Instantly when you get over the line, it’s just sheer joy, sheer happiness,” said the 23-year-old Robinson, who attends Stanford University in California.

“And a minute later the ‘what-ifs’ start kicking in, and it’s like ‘man, I’m one spot off a medal, what if I found a little bit more?’

“But that’s hindsight.

“I feel like I was in the race, I was giving my all from a kilometre in, and I was just hoping that I could hang on for as long as possible.”

It was the second-best performance by an Australian 5000m runner at a world championships, behind Mottram’s historic bronze in Helsinki in 2005.

“He’s probably Australia’s greatest-ever runner, in terms of mid-distance,” said Robinson.

“To go out there and do something similar to what he’s done is definitely something to be proud of. He’s someone I look up to.

“Hopefully, one day in the future, there’s kids who can look up to me, and I can finish my career with some silverware around my neck as well.”

Robinson had a significant breakthrough earlier this year when he finished third in the 3000m at the World Indoors in Nanjing, China.

One of his targets for 2026 is Mottram’s long-standing 5000m national record of 12:55.76 which dates back to 2004.

“With how I ran tonight, I kind of wish that I had another race this season where I could go out and time trial it,” said Robinson.

“At the same time, I’m very happy the season’s over.

“It’s been a long year, a lot of running, and I’m glad I get to take a break now.

“Hopefully I can get into a fast race where it’s paced nicely and I can go target this record.”

- with AAP