Danny Ecker of Germany (© Getty Images)
When telephoning the mobile of Danny Ecker, Germany’s Indoor Pole Vault record holder (6m), in the days leading up to his 2004 indoor debut last weekend, it was not unusual to get the automated answer, “this connection is temporarily not available." It was a message tinged with a certain irony as for a long time Ecker had lost another connection: that with world-class vaulting.
Due to a shoulder injury the 26 year-old, who was once seen as one of the world's greatest vaulting talents, had been unable to compete for more than one and a half years.
However, Ecker is again a happy man having finished 8th with 5.40m in his comeback competition in Dessau last Sunday. It was not a spectacular comeback, but that was not what counted. “It was so important for me to have a competition again. I am happy to be back”, he said.
Even before the long break Ecker had also been troubled by various other injuries. It was in February 2001 in Dortmund when the son of Heide Rosendahl, (who won the 1972 Olympic Long Jump plus the 4x100m relay gold for the Federal Republic of Germany), vaulted the current German Indoor record of 6.00 metres. But instead of heading on for the World Indoors of that year in Lisbon he went to hospital for treatment for a foot injury.
However, his later shoulder problem was much worse. In September 2002 he had to have an operation for a torn shoulder tendon, and it was not before June 2003 that he was able to train for pole vaulting again.
Difficult decision to continue
“I had a tough time before. And a couple of times I asked myself whether it made any sense to continue,” confirmed Ecker. Yet in the end, “I decided to go on.”
One of the factors that kept Ecker in the sport was this year’s Olympic Games.
“This is my big goal. It was the main reason to continue. All my training is directed towards the Olympics.”
Another aspect of his decision was that in his absence there had been no progress in the pole vault. “It’s a motivation to see that the international top level of competition has stagnated. It should be possible for me to reach the top again. If I knew that I could jump no higher than 5.70 metres in the future there would have been no comeback.”
Ecker, who took the 1998 European Indoor and 1999 World Indoor bronze medals, also admits that it was frustrating to watch competitions like the European Championships in Munich in 2002. “I saw how easy it would have been to finish well.”
Financial pressures have been another strain for Ecker during his injury spell. “I no more had any income through competition. Additionally one sponsor cancelled his involvement while others shortened it.” But Ecker, who now studies economics, conquered those problems as well.
Training free of injury
This winter for the first time in his career he has trained for the indoor season without any injury or health problems. “Physically I feel as well as during the time when I jumped six metres. But the problem at present is psychological.” Ecker explains that his persistent injuries have systematically destroyed his mental strength. “The injuries caused a lot of disturbances and anxiety.”
“I was very nervous before my comeback in Dessau and especially before my first jump. After clearing 5.20 and 5.40 there was some relief. So it was difficult to then fully concentrate on 5.60 metres. But I should be able to jump that height.” Ecker expects to build up more confidence in the competitions to come.
Shorter run-up
Additionally he jumps at present with the handicap of a much shorter than usual run-up. In Dessau he took only 14 steps, while normally he used to do 18.
“It has something to do with the cause of the shoulder injury. The run-up was often problematic, because I somehow jumped a bit too late. The top of the pole was a bit behind me and it was already bent. I am trying to change this. So that is why my run-up is so short at present. But I will start increasing it after two to three competitions.”
During the indoor season Danny Ecker refrains from putting any pressure on himself. So far he has planned to compete in three more meetings: Erfurt, Stuttgart and Dortmund. He will probably participate in the German Indoor championships in Dortmund (21st and 22nd February) as well.
Maturity in his lifestyle
However, the World Indoors are not in his diary. That means he will have no stress concerning qualification. “The others will be too strong anyway”, Ecker confirmed.
Leszek Klima, who coaches Danny Ecker, sounds quite optimistic: “Danny is fit. He has trained well. And he takes things more serious than before and has become more mature concerning his lifestyle.” For example Ecker changed his nutrition. “I take care about what I eat. And I have a consultant for nutrition”, Ecker said. He cooks the meals himself.
Ecker may have lost some confidence in recent years, but he has not forgotten about his abilities. “I know about my potential. And I want to be back where I was.”
Ecker’s return could be a boost for German athletics. He has the ability to be successful and he could become an influential personality. In Athens at the latest all connections should be re-established.
