Slovakian athlete Emme Zapletalová experienced an unexpected defeat at the Continental Tour Gold event in Zagreb, Croatia, on Friday. After achieving a historic win at the Diamond League meet in Doha, Qatar, the previous week, she finished fifth in the 400m hurdles with a time of 55.82 seconds. This marks her first non-victory of the season. The Doha race saw her achieve a personal best and the sixth-fastest time in history at 52.30 seconds. Zapletalová expressed confusion regarding her performance in Zagreb, noting a significant drop in her speed. The Zagreb competition served as a Continental Tour Gold event, a tier below the Diamond League. This result raises questions about her consistency as she prepares for future competitions.