It was the sign of things to come. In February, David Storl posted a message on his Facebook page, proudly declaring to his fans that he had completed four years of training and qualified as a professional policeman. Storl the citizen had achieved a long term goal.
Storl the athlete was soon to follow. Just weeks after his police force success, the German shot putter secured his first ever major indoor title, taking the gold medal at the European Indoor Championships in Prague.
Chance to secure Diamond Trophy in Monaco
Monaco could see another landmark yet for the German. At 25, Storl is a two time World Champion and a two time European champion. Yet there are a few titles which have so far eluded him. One of them is the Olympic Gold Medal. Another is the Diamond Trophy.
He could claim the latter on Friday, though it is not only in his own hands. Storl currently holds a four point lead over Joe Kovacs in the Diamond Race, meaning that if he were to win in Monaco and Kovacs were not to finish in the top three, the German would have the Diamond Trophy secured.
North American dominance
Victory for Kovacs, of course, could see Storl's lead evaporate, and the two men go neck and neck at the Brussels final in September. But in a gripping two way battle for top spot this season, it is Storl who has come out on top more often, having beaten Kovacs in two of the three Diamond League meetings in which the two have gone head to head.
As an American, Kovacs has history on his side. In the men's shot put, The Diamond Trophy has always been the preserve of North Americans. In five years, it has been won on four occasions by an American, and once by a Canadian.
This season's front-runner
Only Storl and the double Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski have ever managed to launch a European assault in the Diamond Race. It has been largely in vain – despite scoring points at almost every meeting last season, Storl still finished ten points behind eventual Diamond Race winner Reese Hoffa.
This season, though, Storl has been the front runner, with only Kovacs able to keep up anywhere near the pace. The rest of the field is filled with top class Americans, including former Diamond Trophy holders Reese Hoffa and Ryan Whiting. Yet the experienced bunch have been thwarted at almost every turn by Storl.
A brilliant year
The German's brilliant Diamond League season hit another high point in Lausanne last week, as he achieved the long term aim of clearing the 22 metre mark. That victory also pulled him clear of Kovacs once again.
With two meetings remaining, there is time to let it slip yet. In Monaco and Brussels, however, Storl is well set to add yet another success story to a remarkable 2015.
