Storl readjusts Olympic expectations – Samsung Diamond League

Zürich, Switzerland – Germany's David Storl after his magnificent if unexpected World Championships Shot Put success returned to the invitational circuit on Wednesday night (7) in Zürich at the Samsung Diamond League meeting, finishing 5th in a high class competition with 21.23m a heave which prior to his Daegu performances (21.50 qual and 21.78 final) would have been a personal best.

Moving onto his next competition in Berlin this Sunday (12), the 21-year-old German will seek some expert advice from legendary thrower Ulf Timmerman in his bid to lift the Olympic title in London next summer.

Storl admits that prior to stunning the global elite in Daegu which included defending champion Christian Cantwell, and his three fancied USA colleagues,  and world leader Canada's Dylan Armstrong and Andrei Mikhnevich of Belarus who took the silver and bronze medallists, the future career expectations he had discussed with his coach Sven Lang had seen him  aiming for a top-six finish at the 2012 Games.

Post-Daegu 2011, a competition which he won with his last round personal best of 21.78m, he is already thinking like an Olympic champion in waiting.

Storl the youngest ever World Champion in the event will at the  ISTAF – IAAF World Challenge meeting in Berlin on Sunday (11), finally catch up with Timmerman one of the Shot Put’s legends, who still holds second place on the world all-time list behind the USA's Randy Barnes with what in May 1988 was a World record throw of 23.06m.

"I tried to do this (meet with Timmerman) two years ago but it didn't work out," said the 21-year-old who progressed to the senior global title via World Youth and Junior Championship gold.

"He's an old hand and I'm really looking forward to meeting him," added Storl.

Appropriately, Storl is now the one being sought with the 1988 Olympic champion, now a successful Berlin restaurant owner, making the approach, ringing ISTAF organisers to see if it would possible to finally talk with the newly crowned World champion.

Storl recalling his stunning Daegu victory, said: "It was a very amazing feeling, I couldn't  believe it was such a giant throw, I'm truly enjoying the success right now."

Speaking about the men he shocked in that final, Storl commented "They've accepted me now, at least I think so and they all congratulated me."

Storl commenting about his loss on Wednesday night said: "Zürich was a very special meet for me because the shot putters were placed in the middle of the train station and with the spectators concentrating and focusing on us,  I really enjoyed it.”

Despite putting four times over 21m, something which he would not have dreamed about prior to Daegu, Storl was self-critical, "It was not the standard I achieved at the Worlds. But now I'm just training once a week and concentrating on getting ready for the Olympic qualification.”

"Next season I want to compete at the World Indoor Championships but of course the main focus will be the Olympic Games where the aim was a top six place."