Slovak Hurdler Zapletalová Suffers Surprise Defeat in Zagreb After Historic Diamond League Win

Slovak 400-meter hurdles star Emme Zapletalová finished fifth at a Continental Tour Gold meeting in Zagreb, Croatia on Friday, marking her first defeat of the season. Zapletalová crossed the line in 55.82 seconds, more than three and a half seconds slower than her stunning performance just one week earlier, when she won a Diamond League race in Doha, Qatar, in 52.30 seconds — the sixth-fastest time in history. The athlete said she could not explain the drop in form, noting she ran out of energy during the race and was beaten by several European competitors. The result is a notable setback for Zapletalová, who had entered the Zagreb competition as one of the favorites following her exceptional Doha performance. The Continental Tour Gold series is the second-tier international athletics circuit below the prestigious Diamond League, which brings together the world's top track and field athletes in a season-long competition.