Your Sport for Life

Newsletter of European Athletics 3 | 11 October INSIDE TRACK

European stars crowned in Arona Your Sport for Life Word from the President

Celebrating the IMPRESSUM

European Athletics Association Européenne continent’s best d’Athlétisme

President: Hansjörg Wirz Vice Presidents: Jose Luis de Carlos Karel Pilny Jean Gracia Hansjörg Wirz | President, European Athletics Director General: Christian Milz It is my great pleasure to congratulate , Mo aim to raise awareness about gender issues in the sport. Farah, Jodie Williams and on being named the Office: Avenue Louis-Ruchonnet 18 2011 European Athletes of the Year and European Athletics Two winners from Great Britain and N.I., one from CH-1003 Rising Stars based on their performances this season. and another from in the European Athlete of the Year and Rising Star categories suggest these countries are Phone +41 (0)21 313 43 50 Once again, there have been a record number of votes this in good stead ahead of a very busy year in 2012, with the Fax +41 (0)21 313 43 51 [email protected] year, with tens of thousands of fans, media and member European Athletics Championships in preceding www.european-athletics.org federation members casting their votes on whom they the Olympics in . We look forward to the other thought was deserving of these prestigious awards presented powerhouse countries of Europe and all the others sending “Inside Track” is published by by MONDO. their strongest possible teams to for what promises European Athletics to be a memorable event. Co-ordination: Mariya has become the fourth Russian woman – after her James Mulligan compatriots , and Yelena In at the recent World Championships, both Lord Aditya Kumar Isinbayeva – to be honoured as European Athlete of the Year, Coe and talked of the fantastic opportunity European Athletics Communication Department while Mo follows up his compatriot Phillips Idowu’s triumph that Helsinki 2012 holds for our top European athletes to Phone +41 (0)21 313 43 57 in 2009. showcase their potential and how important a platform it is [email protected] for athletes ahead of London 2012. Both of these impressive athletes are wholly deserving of Text, Photos: their success, as are Jodie and David, two strong performers Looking across our award winners and another future event James Mulligan, Aditya Kumar, Bill Glad, Phil Minshull, and torchbearers for the future generation of our sport. springs to mind: , our men’s European Athlete of Hansjörg Wirz, Christian Milz, the Year, is an official ambassador for London’s bid for the Andy Heading, Picture Alliance The European Athletics Awards Night also recognises the 2017 IAAF World Championships. European Athletics, of national winners of the second edition of the European course, wholeheartedly supports this bid, and we wish UK Design, Production: AMK Atelier für Marketing Athletics Women’s Leadership Awards and the winners of Athletics all the best in their quest to host what I am sure und Kommunikation the European Athletics Coaching Awards. would be an excellent championships. Amstutzstrasse 14 CH-6010 Kriens, Switzerland Finland’s Anni Kirvsniemi-Bosco will represent the 30 national Taking into account the World Championships just passed, I Phone +41 (0)41 320 00 72 Fax +41 (0)41 320 00 79 Women’s Leadership Award winners in Arona, , while was pleased to see that Europe once again gained the most [email protected] representatives Valentina Eiduka and Jacques Borleé of the medals out of the Area Associations, claiming 52 (16 gold, 84 winning coaches from 26 countries will step up to collect 18 silver, 18 bronze). This is compared to the 52 won at Print: the first two awards. 2009 (14 gold, 18 silver, 20 bronze). There is, of course, Multicolor Print AG CH-6340 Baar, Switzerland still much improvement to be made but I congratulate all The annual coaching awards were launched earlier this our athletes who competed to the best of their abilities in Follow us: year and are the centrepiece of our strategy to promote the Daegu. development of coaching. The biennial European Athletics Women’s Leadership Awards, meanwhile, first given in 2009, recognise the contributions made by women to athletics and

European Athletics mourns passing of Dr. Ágoston Schulek

It was with great sadness that European the European Athletics Council and Championships. Athletics learnt of the passing of Dr. Executive Committee but also as a In 2008 he became Honorary Council Ágoston Schulek on 2 October. Ágoston member of the Hungarian Olympic Member of European Athletics, the was, of course, European Athletics Vice Committee and President of the same year he decided to once again President from 1995 to 2007 and an Hungarian Athletics Federation. lead the Hungarian Athletics Association honorary member of the European but only for a year. In 2009 he stepped Athletics Council following this. During his time in office in , down and became Honorary Lifetime he organised the most successful President of the HAA, a title previously European Athletics remembers Ágoston athletics event of the century in the only awarded to Dr. József Sír and István not only as an important member of country, the 1998 European Athletics Gyulai.

2 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 3 | 11 INSIDE TRACK DEVELOPMENT e Lif or f t Spor our Y Kirvesniemi-Bosco to represent Women Leaders

Finland’s Anni Kirvesniemi-Bosco will represent the 30 national winners of the second edition of the European Athletics Women’s Leadership Award at the European Athletics Awards Night presented by Mondo in Arona, Spain, on 15 October 2011.

artwork produced by Marjolaine Perreten, leadership positions in athletics. a student at Lausanne’s Ecole Romande One indicator of its success is the d’Arte et de Communication. fact that now more than 30% of athletic club leaders in Finland Kirvsniemi-Bosco has served the sport are women. in a number of roles, including coach, She will receive her award from European team leader at several international The biennial European Athletics Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz on championships, member of the Women’s Leadership Awards behalf of the others, who will in turn federation’s youth committee and were first given in 2009, be presented their awards at national member of the federation’s board. But when 24 Member Federations ceremonies. she is probably best known in Finland participated by naming national for her work on the federation’s highly winners. Thordis Gisladottir of Her selection to be the representative successful Women’s Mentor Programme, Iceland was selected to represent was made by a jury led by European which she established in 2007 with the the winners at the awards Athletics and IAAF Council Member Sylvia aim of reducing the drop-out rate of girls ceremony. Barlag. The other jury members were and young women aged 16–22. Anna Riccardi, IAAF Council Member; The aim of the awards is to recognise Ilse Bechthold, Honorary Chairperson of The programme has received funding from the contributions made by women to the IAAF Women’s Committee; and John Finland’s ministry of education and sport the athletics and raise awareness about Antonakis, Professor of Organisational and it has become a model used for other gender issues in the sport. Behaviour at the University of Lausanne. sports by the Finnish Olympic Committee. In recent years, the programme has For more information see All 30 winners will receive a diploma and expanded its focus to include support for www.european-athletics.org/womens- a limited edition copy of a commissioned women coaches and other women with leadership-awards.html.

Awards celebrate excellence in coaching

President Hansjörg Wirz will give the first two European Athletics Coaching Awards at the European Athletics Awards Night presented by Mondo in Arona, Spain, on 15 October 2011. Valentina Eiduka (LAT) and Jacques Borlée (BEL) will receive their awards as the representatives of the 84 award winners from 26 countries.

Championships in . All coaches high-performance athletes and in other, on the original Roll of Honour, plus any equally important but less high-profile coach whose athlete wins a European areas of the sport,” said President Wirz. Athletics senior championship in the future and is confirmed by the athlete’s Eiduka and Borlée were selected after federation, will automatically receive the consideration of all 84 winners by a jury The annual awards were launched earlier Coaching Award. led by European Athletics Council member this year and are the centrepiece of Frank Hensel. Other members of the jury European Athletics’ strategy to promote In addition, each federation has been for the years 2012–2015 are Michaela the development of coaching. invited to nominate one male and one Ingberg, co-chair of the European female coach per year for the award Athletics Athlete’s Commission; Vadim The remainder of the winners will receive based on the criteria “excellence in Zelichenok, European Atheltics Council their awards in national ceremonies coaching”. Fifteen federations nominated member; and Frank Dick, President of the organised by their federations. coaches this year. European Athletics Coaches Association.

In 2010, European Athletics created a “We felt that a coaching award best For more information on the European Coaching Roll of Honour to recognise honours the recipients and expresses Athletics Coaching Awards visit: those coaches whose athletes had won European Athletics’ appreciation for the www.european-athletics.org/european- a at the European Athletics contributions of coaches working with athletics-coaching-awards.html.

INSIDE TRACK 3 | 11 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 3 Your Sport for Life European athlete of the year Farah caps unforgettable year with Europe’s top award

This year has been one that Mo Farah will never forget, regardless of what he goes on to achieve in front of his family, friends and many, many fans at the next summer in his home city of London.

Indoor Championships in . have to be strong. When you come so close to gold; you want that gold. You Moving into the summer, the 28-year-old do everything you can,” added Farah runner set a European 10,000m record of paying tribute to his mentor, the American 26:46.57 when winning at the Diamond distance running guru Alberto Salazar. League meeting in Eugene, Oregon, in June and in July he ran a 2011 world- Salazar has been working with Farah since leading 5000m of 12:53.11 in , March and it’s fair to say that Salazar a time which ranked him second on the has taken the 2010 European Athletics European all-time lists for the event as Championships 5000m and 10,000m well as being a national record. gold medallist to another level.

However, all this was a prelude to his feats Farah will now have to deal with the at the World Championships in Daegu. He pressure of being one of Britain’s big had to settle for the silver medal in the hopes for success at the 2012 Olympic 10,000m – one of only two defeats in 14 Games but the level-headed Londoner The pinnacle of his achievement was, of competitions on all surfaces during 2011 seems capable of coping, if anyone can. course, winning the 5000m gold medal at – but bounced back to run a tactically “I’m going to have a couple of weeks the World Championships but there were perfect race in the 5000m to become the of break and then just start the winter so many other outstanding moments for first European runner to win a global title season slowly. You’ve got to forget about the 2011 European Athlete of the Year to at the event for nearly two decades. what you’ve done this year and just focus savour. on 2012, it’s going to be a big year but “I can’t quite believe it. I pictured the I’m looking forward to it and I aim to stay The first indication that this was going to 10,000m on the last lap and I was positive,” said Farah after his last race of be a hallmark year came in Birmingham thinking, ‘I came so close then, I’m not the season, a win over two miles on the back in February when he set a European going to let anyone pass me,” reflected road in Newcastle in September. indoor record over 5000m, circling 25 laps a determined and delighted Farah after of the National Indoor Arena in 13:10.60. the race. “A lot of people are talking about The following month he defended his London. It’s great that the Olympics are 3000m title at the European Athletics After a slow early pace, Farah covered the on our doorstep, but at the same time final lap in a super-quick 52.87 seconds, we’re guaranteed nothing, as you saw in Mo Farah fact file sinking to his knees in prayer after crossing the 10,000m (in Daegu).” the line in triumph before being overcome 1983 23 March – Born in Mogadishu, Somalia. by tears of joy. At the time of writing, Farah has still not 1993 Moved to Britain. decided on whether he will use the SPAR 2001 Wins the European Athletics Junior Championships “It was key today to wind it up and not let European Cross Country Championships 5000m title, silver at the SPAR European Cross anyone go past me and then dig in after in December as part of his preparations Country Championships. that. I knew (American runner and former for the Olympics but if he does run in 2003 European Athletics U23 Championships 5000m silver world champion) Bernard Lagat coming Velenje it would be an emotional return medallist. up from 1500m would have the speed. It to the Slovenian city as it was there that 2005 European Athletics U23 Championships 5000m silver medallist. was a tactical race, physical at times, but he first came to international attention, 2006 European Athletics Championships 5000m silver that’s the nature of championship races. finishing fifth in the junior race at the medallist, wins at the SPAR European Cross Country There was a lot of pace changes, going 1999 edition of the championship. Championships. faster than slower. 2008 SPAR European Cross Country Championships silver Farah also continues a strong tradition of medallist. “This is something you train for every day, British men taking European Athletics’ top 2009 Wins the European Athletics Indoor Championships two times a day, three times a day, it is accolade. 3000m title, SPAR European Cross Country what you want to do as an athlete: win. Championships silver medallist. It’s an amazing feeling. He joins , , 2010 Wins both the 5000m and 10,000m gold medals at two-time winner Jonathan Edwards, the European Athletics Championships. 2011 Wins the World Championships 5000m title, silver in “The race came down to a finish and Phillips Idowu on the 10,000m; European indoor 5000m and European and I am glad I took it. I believe in my the roll of honour after being named 10000m records. coach and that’s important mentally. You European Athlete of the Year.

4 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 3 | 11 INSIDE TRACK European athlete of the year e Lif or f t Spor our Y Smiles and spikes marks are Savinova’s symbols of success

Middle-distance runner Mariya Savinova has become the fourth Russian woman – after her compatriots Irina Privalova, Svetlana Masterkova and – to be honoured as the European Athlete of the Year presented by MONDO.

The highlight of Savinova’s splendid year, “I am always very nervous before the in which she only lost one of her 10 start of a big race and it was the same outings over 800m, was without doubt this time but both my husband (1500m her victory at the World Championships runner Aleksey Farnosov) and my coach this summer. calmed me down and convinced me that I was stronger than others, that I had an She grabbed the gold medal over two laps advantage in speed and tactics. I think of the track in a stunning time of 1:55.87. now that I would have won even if it had been a slow race. Not only did it smash her personal best by more than a second, it was also the fastest “However, I am always very careful to time by a European runner for almost nine treat every opponent with respect. We years. run right next to each other, and you must keep track of everything going on. The In addition, it also added to her burgeoning slowest girl can knock you out of the race. gold medal collection from major I have a visible reminder that you cannot championships after victories in 2010 at affording to lose your concentration: a the European Athletics Championships few small scars on one of my legs. and World Indoor Championships. “It was at a local meeting in the Russia has a fine tradition in women’s Savinova gave notice that she was also Chelyabinsk arena, I was spiked almost 800m running but there has not been likely to be a medal contender in Daegu from the gun, then again and again. Now, any of her compatriots on the podium, let after winning the Russian title back in July every time, just before the race, I look at alone winning, since Masterkova took the in a personal best of 1:56.95, which at the these marks as a reminder to keep very gold medal in 1996; the year she was also time was a world-leading mark. focused and attentive,” added Savinova, the European Athlete of the Year. giving away her secret of how she keeps Not even an untimely, but fortunately her mind on the job in hand. “The most important thing in my diary is mild, bout of food poisoning at the now the Olympics but I know that there Russian holding camp in Vladivostok just The pictures of the delighted 26-year-old will be even higher expectations by the before she departed from Daegu could from Chelyabinsk in the Urals crossing the press and the public. I haven’t decided knock her off track. line made some of the most memorable what I will do in the indoor season yet, I’m images of the nine days in Daegu. still absorbing what I did this summer,” She confidently won her heat and semi- she added, before departing for a final in but few, including “I did feel that there was enormous deserved end-of-season holiday in Egypt. herself, anticipated the fireworks that pressure on me at the World were to follow in the 800m final on the Championships itself. The smile appeared last day of the Championships. unconsciously, it was almost one of relief,” revealed Savinova in a recent interview on “I did not expect that the girls would start the Russian athletics federation website Mariya Savinova fact file so quickly, the first 400m was in about 55 www.rusathletics.com. 1985 13 August – Born in Chelyabinsk, Russia. seconds (in fact 55.50). I have always run 2007 First medal at a national level, finishing second in the the distance at a steady tempo and I feel Other big wins in 2011 included victories at Russian U23 indoor championships 800m. more comfortable if the laps are done in the SPAR European Team Championships, 2008 Runs third leg for the Sverdlovsk Region team that sets about the same time,” said Savinova in where she helped Russia retain its place a world indoor 4x800m record of 8:14.53. the wake of her win. as Europe’s top athletics nation, and the 2009 Breaks two minutes for the first time at the Russian indoor championships, wins the European Athletics Samsung final in . Indoor Championships 800m title, finishes fifth over “However, I followed the tactics exactly as 800 at the World Championships that summer. I had planned with my coach. In this last However, like every one of the summer’s 2010 Wins 800m gold medals at both the World 30 metres, when I hit the front for the first world champions, she has now turned her Indoor Championships and European Athletics time, I almost came to a halt. I just smiled thoughts towards the Olympics, in which Championships. from ear to ear. In fact, I still had a little she will obviously be the long-distance 2011 Wins the World Championships 800m title in 1:55.87, in reserve. favourite. the fastest European time over two laps of the track for nine years.

INSIDE TRACK 3 | 11 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 5 Your Sport for Life European athletICS Rising star Storl triumphs after victories in Ostrava and Daegu

Shot putter David Storl followed in the footsteps of his compatriot Raphael Holzdeppe, who won in 2008, to become the second German male athlete to be honoured as the European Athletics Rising Star since the award was inaugurated in 2007.

2011 world leader Dylan Armstrong going be very difficult, said the stunned Storl. into the final round, before launching his final effort out to a European under 23 “After the qualification a lot of my record of 21.78m. competitors were saying: ‘Who is David Storl?’ Now they know. What gave me the The story of Storl’s road to success in South motivation for the last attempt? I asked Korea – where he became the youngest my team mate (2006 European athletics ever world champion in his event and one Championships gold medallist) Ralf Bartels of only 10 athletes to have won world title about the secret of responding with the at youth, junior and senior level – cannot last attempt and he told me,” added the be told any better than by repeating the German. words written by Athletics International. “It was a very amazing feeling, I couldn’t “World Youth champion in 2007 and believe it was such a giant throw, I’m truly World Junior champion the following enjoying the success right now.” year, his progression has been astonishing. There’s no doubt that the 21-year-old Shortly before setting a world junior record Storl was already known as a prodigious heavy-metal loving policeman is a very of 22.73m with the 6kg shot in 2009 he talent to the rest of the world’s top shot deserving winner of this year’s award. became the world junior record holder putters, two early signs this year that he with the full size shot with 20.43m,” was ready to go head-to-head with his The rapidly-improving 2010 European commented the respected publication of elders were a silver medal at the European Athletics championships silver medallist our sport. Athletics Indoor Championships and fulfilled his role as the favourite for the winning at the SPAR European Team gold medal at the European Athletics “In 2010 he improved to 20.77m and Championships, but his achievement and U23 Championships when he won in the this year he reached 21.05m ... before maturity in Daegu garnered further words Czech city of Ostrava with a championship producing a monster throw of 21.50m, of respect. record of 20.45m. a European U23 record, in the qualifying round at Daegu. Often athletes suffer a “He’s the future of shot putting for the He then surpassed expectations and reaction after unleashing a great throw next 10 years,” said the vanquished surprised everyone by adding another title or jump when qualifying, fearful that they Armstrong. to his ever-growing list of accolades when may have shot their bolt, but that wasn’t he triumphed at this summer’s World the case with the 1.99m tall German.” Prior to Daegu, Storl and his coach had Championships. publicly admitted that his target was a top Storl started the final nervously with a six place at next summer’s Olympic Games Storl showed his physical talent and mental foul but then provoked huge cheers from in Daegu, however he has now revised his strength in Daegu to come from behind, his team mates watching in the stands ambitions. “After what I achieved at the after lying in second place to ’s as he sent his implement out to another World Championships, I don’t think I can personal best and continental under 23 now be happy with anything other than a record of 21.60m in the second round. medal in London.” David Storl fact file Armstrong dislodged Storl from pole However, he admits that the German 1990 27 July – Born in Rochlitz, Germany. position when he achieved 21.64m with and European record of 23.06m, that 2007 Wins at the IAAF World Youth Championships. his fourth attempt and Storl then fouled has belonged to his compatriot Ulf 2008 Wins at the IAAF World Junior Championships. his fourth and fifth round efforts as he Timmermann since 1988, might take a 2009 Wins at the European Athletics Junior Championships. tried to regain the lead but everything little longer to achieve. World junior record of 22.73m with the 6kg shot came right with the penultimate throw of and world junior record of 20.43m with the senior the competition as Storl’s shot flew out to “That could be a few seasons away. Let implement. his winning distance and Armstrong was me get to 22 metres first! After that 2010 Silver medal at the European Athletics Championships. unable to respond. we will see,” joked Storl, answering the 2011 Wins at the SPAR European Team Championships, inevitable questions about what his limits European Athletics U23 Championships and World “I cannot believe it. This is so great. After might be. Championships. Five European U23 shot put records being the best qualifier, I thought it would culminating in his Daegu winning distance of 21.78m.

6 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 3 | 11 INSIDE TRACK European athletICS Rising star e Lif or f t Spor our Y Storl triumphs after victories Williams’ in Ostrava and Daegu exploits put her on top

The exploits of Jodie Williams at the 2010 World Junior Championships earned the British teenage sprint sensation third place in the voting for last year’s European Athletics Rising Star award presented by MONDO but 12 months later she turned bronze into gold.

In a year when junior women athletes it’s good to go sub-23 seconds again. I felt across the continent were on fine form, a lot better in the heats but I don’t think and a spate of world and European junior it was ever going to be a quick time in the records tumbled, the 18-year-old from just final after that (her heat). I’m definitely north of London came out on top of the happy though; I’ve done what I came here poll thanks to her superb 100m and 200m to do,” added Williams after her second double at the European Athletics Junior gold medal. Championships in the Estonian capital Tallinn. For good measure, she also helped Great Britain to third place in the 4x100m relay Time-wise, I’d probably do better in the After clocking 11.33 into a stiff breeze in and left Tallinn as the only female athlete 200m but the 100m has always been my the 100m semi-finals, the only relevant of the Championships to have three dream; that’s what I want to aim for in question was about how fast Williams medals hung around her neck. London. was going to run in the final, not who was “I’ll need to go under 11 seconds next going to challenge her. Williams had advertised earlier in the year year (to reach the Olympic Games 100m that 2011 was going to be even better final). I think I can do it, I’d love to be in an In the end, the prognostications of her than the year before. Olympic final. We’ll see how it goes but I’ll triumphing with ease were absolutely be at my peak in 2016 and 2020. correct and she clocked a championship She won the British indoor 60m title, the and national junior record of 11.18, youngest winner for 40 years, and then Just for the record, the world and the fastest time by a European junior in went to the European Athletics Indoor European junior 100m record is 10.88 and more than eight years. She had a massive Championships in Paris to make her has belonged to the former East German winning margin of more than three-tenths senior debut in a British vest, where she sprinter Marlies Oelsner, who became of a second. eventually finished fourth and equalled better known under her married name of her personal best of 7.21 which she had Gohr, since 1977. “I’ve been training better than last year set in the semi-finals. and my times in training have been better With Williams’ rapid rate of improvement, than last year so I knew I had 11.1 in me, “I was quite stressed (before Paris). I even though the Oelsner time is currently I’ve just not had the right conditions until had so much school work to do. I then a huge three-tenths faster than she has today,” reflected Williams after her first calmed down and it was cool. My aim run at the moment, who would dare to victory. was to reach the final and, when I did, I say with absolute conviction that even thought ‘I’d better not come last!’ I did a that historic mark is beyond her grasp? Just 24 hours after winning the 100m bit better than that; I was that close to a gold medal, Williams returned to the track medal, but it’s actually a good thing. If I’d for the 200m and scooped her second won a medal there would’ve been crazy European junior title. pressure,” said Williams in an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian Jodie Williams fact file Despite easing down, she still clocked earlier this year. 1993 28 September – Born in Welwyn Garden City, Britain. 23.21 in her heat earlier in the day and Both her parents were regional standard sprinters. Williams lined up as the favourite again She fully understands that the pressure is 2007 Starts to take athletics serious, at the age of 13. in the final just two hours later. She building up even more after her supremely 2009 Wins the 100m and 200m at the World Youth blazed her way around the track to a successful summer, with London playing Championships in . time of 22.94, and would have probably host to the 2012 Olympic Games as well as 2010 Wins the 100m gold medal at the World Junior have improved on her personal best of her still being eligible to contest the 2012 Championships in Canada, but her 151-race individual 22.79 but for a 1.5 metres-per-second World Junior Championships and also unbeaten streak comes to an end when she finishes headwind. having the possibility of competing in the second in the 200m. 2012 European Athletics Championships. 2011 Wins both the 100m and 200m at the European “We had such a quick turnaround, I think Athletics Junior Championships in Tallinn, . In it was just two hours. I literally cooled “Even before I ran, I wanted to be in the the final of the 100m, she runs a championship record down then started warming up again. I’m Olympics. It was one of those little kid’s 11.18, the fastest by a European junior sprinter since not particularly pleased with the time but fantasies but hopefully it will happen now. 2003.

INSIDE TRACK 3 | 11 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 7 Your Sport for Life OSTRAVA 2011/TALLINN 2011 El Sheryf’s leap and Russia’s all-round strength stand out in

Russia once again topped the medals table at the European Athletics U23 Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Led by the likes of Darya Klishina – table with 14. They claimed five gold, 17.72m to claim the gold medal after already a European indoor champion eight silver and one bronze. high-profile Frenchman and who pocketed gold in the women’s Although there were a number of sadly pulled out of the competition with a season’s best leap of remarkable performances by the next after injuring himself warming up. El- 7.05m – and 800m/1500m winner generation of European athletics, the Sheryf’s was the third best European Yelena Arzhakova, Russia won 21 two performances that truly stood out performance of the year after Tamgho’s medals in total – ten gold, six silver and during the four-day championships in and Phillips Idowu’s efforts in Lausanne five bronze. the Czech industrial town were from and Daegu. Azerbaijani athlete Layesh Abdullayeva Both Klishina and Arzhakova received and Ukrainian triple jumper Sheryf El- One of the big surprises of the event 2011 European Athletics Rising Star Sheryf. was the failure of Germany’s Raphael award nominations for their feats in Holzdeppe to make a fist of retaining Ostrava. Abdullayeva completed the 5000m his title, but that should not and 10000m double, winning the detract from Pawel Wojciechowski Great Britain and N.I. finished second in shorter distance with a national claiming gold with a personal best the medals table with 19, a haul which record of 15:29.47 and setting a 5.70. included six gold, five silver and eight championships record of 32:18.05 over bronze. 25 laps of the track. Belgium’s Thomas Van Der Plaetsen set a new national record, mustering 8157 Darya Klishina (RUS) Ukraine took third spot in the medals El-Sheryf bounded out to a breathtaking points, to win the decathlon title. Europe’s future in right hands High quality contests, remarkable individual performances, and a fairy-tale finish as the host nation’s great medal hope Liina Laasma snatched the women’s javelin title with her very last throw of the penultimate event on the final day – the 21st European Athletics Junior championships in the Estonian capital had it all.

More than anything else Tallinn 2011 reinforced There were shades of Bolt’s brilliant Bejiing victory days as she claimed both the 1500m and 3000m the notion that the future of European athletics is in the way Vicault blasted away from his rivals in titles. in good hands. It was Laasma who captured the the men’s 100m final. The Frenchman lived his home fans’ hearts, however, as she produced the dream of following to the Supremely talented Swede perfect ending to a hugely successful event. European junior crown as he blitzed the field pushed the pole vault championships record to win by a massive margin in 10.07, just three to 4.57m to add yet another gold medal to her The championships that began with a 10km hundredths outside Lematre’s European junior glittering cabinet. walk world record 42:59.48 by Russia’s Yelena and championships record. Lashmanova saw a number of outstanding Dutch multi-eventer added a performances, and continental and championships The 18-year-old Navarro was the only man to European junior title to her world junior title of records over four days. get two individual gold medals in Tallinn and 2010 by taking the gold medal in Tallinn. became only the third man in the history of Among the highlights of the event were British the Championships to do the 5000m/10000m Latvia’s Zigimunds Sirmais, who threw a world teenage sensation Jodie Williams’ 100–200m double. junior javelin record of 84.47m at the European double, French sprinter Jimmy Vicaut’s Bolt-like Cup Winter Throwing in Sofia in May, carried triumph in the men’s 100m and Spanish long Winning one gold for Serbia is a notable forward the good work and won the European distance runner Gabriel Navarro’s 5000m and achievement but Amela Terzić made it two in two junior title in Tallinn with a championships record 10000m golden double in the hot and humid of 81.53. conditions of the Estonian capital. The tale of Tallinn 2011 cannot be complete Williams burned up the track in the women’s without a mention of the pulsating men’s long 100m final to take gold in 11.18, a championships jump final on Day 2 of the championships, when record by three hundredths of a second. She then Russia’s Sergey Morgunov captured the European added a 200m gold and capped the event by junior title with a last ditch effort of 8.18m steering her country to bronze in the 4x100m following his superb duel with ’s Tomasz relay. Her performance gave her this year’s Jaszczuk. European Athletics Rising Star award.

Jimmy Vicaut (FRA)

8 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 3 | 11 INSIDE TRACK DAEGU 2011 e Lif or f t Spor our Y El Sheryf’s leap and Russia’s all-round strength stand out in Czech Republic

World Championships review: Europe’s stars shine bright in Asia

Europe once again came out as the top continent at the 2011 IAAF World Championships, held in the South Korean city of Daegu between 27 August and 4 September, with athletes from the area netting the impressive haul of 52 medals: 16 gold medals, 18 silver medals and 18 of the bronze variety.

Showing the strength of the sport across Consequently, here is a brief roll call of Storl, just 21, added to his global titles at Europe, no less than 14 countries were all those 16 individuals who had their youth and junior level when he sent his represented among the nations that saw national anthems played in their honour. implement out to a European U23 record their flags raised at medal ceremonies, of 21.78m in the last round to become the more than a quarter of European Great Britain’s Farah and David Greene youngest World Championships winner of Athletics’ Member Federations, although were the only European men to triumph his event. the titles were spread among a quintet of on the track but they did so in emphatic the traditional powerhouses: Germany, fashion. De Zordo, just a year older than Storl, Great Britain, Poland, Russia and Ukraine. put behind him an erratic season to find Farah bounced back from having to settle his form when it counted and hurled In addition to the flurry of medals, for a silver medal in the 10,000m to run his spear out to 86.27m to win by more there were also a series of superlatives a tactical perfect race in the 5000m and than a metre, while Harting successfully established in Daegu. a blazing last lap took him to victory in defended the crown he won in Berlin two 13:23.36, becoming the first European years ago, and maintained his unbeaten European athletes produced one new runner in 19 years to win a global title at season, with a throw of 68.97m and championship record, four world-leading the event. a margin of victory of more than two marks and 14 national records were also metres. set or equalled. Greene, the British team captain, produced a courageous run off the final Poland’s Pawel Wojciechowski, the 2011 It’s perhaps a little unfair to pick out a barrier to come from behind and win the European Athletics U23 Championships single European athlete who excelled 400m hurdles in 48.26. pole vault winner, added to his gold medal above everyone else – although the feats collection when he went over 5.90m with of Great Britain’s Mo Farah and Russia’s Germany’s male throwers had an his second attempt to win on countback. Mariya Savinova certainly helped them top outstanding series of results with David the polls for the 2011 European Athlete Storl, Robert Harting and Mattias de Russia dominated the walks, taking all of the Year – as every world champion Zordo winning the shot put, discus and three titles just as they had done at the deserves some form of tribute. javelin respectively. 2010 European Athletics Championships.

INSIDE TRACK 3 | 11 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 9 Your Sport for Life

Valery Borchin defended his world title European time for nearly nine years and Betty Heidler to second place to win the with a dominating performance in humid the best time in the world this year. hammer with an effort of 77.13m. conditions, winning in 1:19:56 after breaking away from his nearest rivals with Another Russian women’s victory on the Another woman named Tatyana, this 5km to go. track which held up as the best time in the time called Chernova, also upset in the world in 2011 was Yuliya Zaripova’s mark heptathlon when she beat Britain’s highly His team mate Sergey Bakulin took the of 9:07.03 when she won the 3000m favoured Jessica Ennis with a 2011 world longer 50km walk in 3:41:24 after being steeplechase. -leading score of 6880 points. out on his own from 35km, eventually winning by 81 seconds. Russia’s women kept on delighting the Ukraine got their only victory of the crowd in the field events as well. After Championships when triple jumper Olga In the women’s 20km walk, Olga silver medals at the last two World Saladuha leapt out to 14.94 with her first Kaniskina continued her march towards Championships, high jumper Anna attempt and nobody else could match the being thought of as the greatest ever Chicherova finally struck gold when she distance. female walker. cleared 2.03m at the first time of asking. A special mention should also be made Already a gold medallist at the 2007 and Javelin thrower Mariya Abakumova came of French sprinter and 2010 European 2009 World Championships, the 2008 out on top with a championship record Athletics Athlete of the Year Christophe Olympic Games and 2010 European of 71.99m, the second best throw ever, Lemaitre who finished third in the 200m Athletics Championships, she completed to just shade the Czech former champion in a national record of 19.80, the second an unprecedented hat trick of world titles and world record holder Barbora fastest ever time by a European. when she crossed the line in 1:29:42. Spotakova in what many people thought was the best field event contest at the The feats of everyone mentioned above Savinova continued the Russia run of Championships. means that European Athletics can look success – they were Europe’s leading forward with huge optimism to the 2012 nation with nine gold medals, four silver Tatyana Lysenko added to Russia’s gold European Athletics Championships in and six bronze – when she won the 800m reserves when she upset the odds and Helsinki and the 2012 Olympic Games in on the final day in 1:55.87, the fastest relegated Germany’s world record holder London next summer.

10 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 3 | 11 INSIDE TRACK 2011 e Lif or f t Spor our Y retain SPAR European Team Championships title

As many expected, Russia won at the 2011 SPAR European Team Championships in Stockholm, but few pundits predicted that they would accumulate a record total of 385 points by the end of two-day event.

Following their five victories on the first the Russian athletics federation website day they added another four on the www.rusthaletics.com. final day thanks to Tatyana Dektyareva in the 100m hurdles, long jumper Darya “When Darya Pishchalnikova finished her Klishina and the two 4x400m relay teams. last attempt [after the women’s discus, when Russia took an unassailable lead Germany, 2009 champions, moved up four events before the end], we all just from third place 12 months ago with 331.5 stood up and roared. The guys who did In the Third League in Reykjavik, Israel The victorious Russian team celebrates after points while Ukraine had their best result not do as well as we had hoped, came topped the charts with 490 points while winning the SPAR in the three years of the Championships and apologized after their events. This Cyprus followed suit with 469 points to European Team when they got their first place on the had never happened before.” earn promotion to the Second League for Championships in podium with 304 points for third. the next edition. Stockholm. topped the table at the European At the other end of the table, Czech Team Championships First League in Izmir The bottom three teams in the Super Republic, and hosts with 329 points, while and Norway League in Stockholm were relegated to finished in the bottom three and return finished second and third with 307.5 and the First League for the next edition of to the First League in 2013 after getting 290 points respectively. All three teams the championships, while the bottom two promoted last year. earned promotion to the top league for teams from the First and Second League the next edition of the championships. were also relegated. Russia’s head athletics coach Valentin Maslakov hailed the team spirit of his A year after being relegated, Estonia The SPAR European Team Championships country’s defence of their title. forced their way back into the First League will next be staged in two years time, after topping the table at the European at the British venue of , “We had no apparent failures; we scored Team Championships Second League in because 2012 has the European Athletics more points than last year. The team rallied , Serbia, on Sunday. They will Championships in Helsinki on its calendar. around each other, and worked well with be joined by Bulgaria who fell short by the officials on the team. Everybody felt a mere 2.5 points to finish second with The overall standings at the end of the for each other; everybody supported each 215.5 points. second and final day of the event follow. other,” said Maslakov, in an interview with

SPAR European Team Championships 5. The Netherlands 278 European Team Championships 1. Russia 385 6. Hungary 265 Third League 2. Germany 331 .5 7. Switzerland 251 .5 1. Israel 490 (P) 3. Ukraine 304 8. Finland 248 2. Cyprus 469 (P) 4. Great Britain and N.I. 289 9. Belgium 245 .5 3. Republic of Moldova 440 5. 284 10. Ireland 224 .5 4. Iceland 411 6. Poland 264 11. Slovenia 200 .5 (R) 5. Bosnia and Herzegowina 390 7. Spain 246 12. Croatia 178 (R) 6. Azerbaijan 377 8. Italy 237 7. Armenia 341 9. Belarus 220 European Team Championships 8. Luxembourg 335 10. Czech Republic 211 (R) Second League 9. Malta 270 11. Portugal 177 .5 (R) 1. Estonia 218 (P) 10. Montenegro 266 12. Sweden 159 (R) 2. Bulgaria 215 .5 (P) 11. Former Yugoslav Republic 3. Serbia 188 .5 of Macedonia 233 European Team Championships 4. Lithuania 185 12. Ass. of Small States of Europe 178 First League 5. Denmark 175 13. Andorra 174 1. Turkey 329 (P) 6. Austria 172 14. Georgia 144 2. Greece 307 .5 (P) 7. Latvia 147 (R) 15. Albania 93 3. Norway 290 (P) 8. Slovakia 134 .5 (R) 4. Romania 282 .5 Note: (P) – Promoted, (R) – Relegated

INSIDE TRACK 3 | 11 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 11 Your Sport for Life Velenje 2011 Action shifts to Velenje

On the 11th of December, Velenje will become only the second city to stage the event for a second time, after the back-to-back editions of 1994 and 1995, the first two years of the Championships, which were held in the north east of town of Alnwick.

“We have already been in Slovenia “I am sure that Velenje will stage a great sure will enjoy themselves and have a for the SPAR European Cross Country championship next year. I have got lots of great trip,” added Guerra. Championships, back in 1999. I have happy memories of running there in1999 got special memories of it because it was because I was at the peak of my ability. In fact, Lebid finished eighth that year in my first competition after being elected I had won a bronze medal at the 1999 the senior men’s race and the seemingly as the European Athletics President,” World Cross Country Championships ageless Ukraine runner notched up his said Hansjörg Wirz, European Athletics earlier that year and in Velenje I defeated ninth title in Albufeira. President. a lot of very good runners. At the age of 36, Lebid is still going “My team mate Eduardo Henriques was strong. After winning in Albufeira, running fantastically well that winter but he now has a record nine SPAR Cross I was able to put in a change of pace half Country Championships titles to his way around the final lap and shake him name, has competed in all 17 editions of off. (Henriques finished as the runner the Championships, and fully intends to up, five seconds behind Guerra.) I beat defend his title later this year. a lot of other very good runners like Britain’s Jon Brown, who had run so well By coincidence, Portugal’s Jessica Augusto in 1996 to beat me into second place at also finished eighth when she ran in “I am also convinced that many athletes the Championships that year in Belgium. Velenje 11 years ago but in the junior who were there have got good memories Sergey Lebid was also there, having won women’s race. because the local organisers made a big the previous year, and we now know what effort to prepare the course well. It was he was going to do in the future. Augusto was a outstanding champion demanding, if you have seen pictures of in front of a delighted home crowd in that race I’m sure you would agree, so “Velenje remains one of my favourite Albufeira last December, adding a senior next year the track will be in a slightly venues out of all the 10 SPAR European women’s gold medal to the one she won different place. Cross Country Championships that I ran as a junior in 2000, and will compete in in. It was a tough course there, for sure, her 12th SPAR European Cross Country “We hope that it not be quite as muddy but it was a proper cross country course Championships in December, assuming as the last time the Championships were and that suited me. that she is able to defend her title in less in Slovenia but if the same effort is made than two months’ time. (by the local organisers) then I am sure we “I’d love to go back there again and the will have a great event. runners that do go there next year, I am

“The last time I remember that there was a great response to the work done by the local organisers. The entire city of Velenje seemed to be on its legs and at the course. There were people there of all ages from school children upwards, it was a very impressive crowd supporting the athletes and the event, and I’m certain it will be the same in December. I am convinced that there will be another excellent SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Velenje,” added Wirz.

One of those ‘many athletes’ Wirz referred to is the Portuguese cross country icon Paulo Guerra, who won the third of his four SPAR European Cross Country Championships titles in Velenje.

Guerra was one of the Ambassadors of this year’s event in his home country and happy to reflect on the events of 1999 as well as look forward 12 months.

12 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 3 | 11 INSIDE TRACK