Your Sport for Life

Newsletter of European Athletics 2 | 09 October INSIDE TRACK AWARDS EDITION

Arise Domínguez, Idowu, Grøvdal, Lemaître! European Athletes of the Year & Rising Stars for 2009

Plus! Introducing the inaugural European Athletics Women’s Leadership Awards Your Sport for Life EUROPEAN ATHLETICS VALUES The story of our logo

The picture mark or logotype at the core According to Lannering, one of the starting In 2008, the slogan “Your Sport for Life” IMPRESSUM of the European Athletics brand identity points for his creative work was how the was added below the logotype for use on European Athletics was designed by Martin Lannering organisation European Athletics unites the website and many other situations Association Européenne of the Swedish company ANR.BBDO three groups – Member Federations, to give greater prominence to European d’Athlétisme and launched in 2004. Five years on, athletes and fans – across Europe through Athletics’ mission and strategy to use the President: Hansjörg Wirz SUI it continues to be a highly visible and the . As the arcs can also sport’s values to engage new audiences. Vice Presidents: valuable element of the organisation’s be seen as lanes on three tracks, The orange colour of the slogan indicates Jose Luis de Carlos ESP, communications strategy. the logotype is sometimes referred to as that these apply to athletics as a whole, Svein Arne Hansen NOR “United Tracks.” emphasising European Athletics leadership Treasurer: Karel Pilny CZE Director General: The logotype comprises three arcs, each of the sport in Europe. Christian Milz SUI representing one of the basic components Since its introduction, the logo has of athletics: running, jumping and evolved to meet the needs of the day. For further information on European Office: throwing. The curve and positioning of the The small “EAA,” the abbreviation for Athletics’ communications strategy, see Avenue Louis-Ruchonnet 18 CH-1003 Lausanne arcs lead the eye in three dimensions and European Athletic Association, which “Living the Brand,” a handbook available Switzerland create a feeling of movement. The result originally featured in the upper left hand from the European Athletics Head Office. Phone +41 (0)21 313 43 50 is best described by the word “dynamic,” corner, disappeared in 2007, reflecting the Fax +41 (0)21 313 43 51 which, of course, is often used to describe decision to emphasise the sport through [email protected] www.european-athletics.org the sport as well. the brand name European Athletics rather than the organisation’s legal name, which “Inside Track” is published by The strong blue and yellow colours are is now used only in contracts and formal European Athletics meant to symbolise Europe, while the contexts. Removing the letters also gave Co-ordination: equally strong orange represents the sport the logo a cleaner look and emphasised James Mulligan GBR of athletics. the dynamism of the three arcs. Aditya Kumar IND European Athletics Communication Department Phone +41 (0)21 313 4360 [email protected]

Text, Photos: James Mulligan GBR, The slogan “Your Sport for Life” is a key element of the European Athletics brand, Aditya Kumar IND, Bill Glad GBR, Phil Minshull encapsulating both the mission to build up loyal relationships between Europeans GBR, Michael Butcher GBR, and the sport of athletics and the strategy of using the sport’s values to engage and Hansjörg Wirz SUI, Picture retain new audiences. Alliance The demand of modern consumers, especially young people, is for choice. “Your Design, Production: AMK Atelier für Marketing Sport” implies that there are many possible forms of engagement – health and fitness und Kommunikation enthusiast, elite athlete, coach, competition official, club volunteer, federation leader, Amstutzstrasse 14 spectator, television viewer, internet user, etc. – and that from any combination of CH-6010 Kriens, Switzerland these each individual’s relationship with athletics can be customised to meet his or Phone +41 (0)41 320 00 72 Fax +41 (0)41 320 00 79 her current interests and needs. [email protected] European Athletics aims to have a life-long relationship with as many people as Print: possible and this is reflected in the “for Life” element of the slogan. There is also a Multicolor Print AG CH-6340 Baar, Switzerland double meaning here. The values of the sport – health, fitness, education, personal development, social and environment responsibility, etc. – all imply that your personal relationship with athletics will add to your quality of life.

3 WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT 8 EUROPEAN ATHLETICS 14 EUROPEAN ATHLETICS A time to celebrate European RISING STAR PRESENTED WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP Athletics’ past, present and future BY MONDO AWARDS Grøvdal keeps Norwegian flag Iceland’s Gísladóttir to represent 4 EUROPEAN ATHLETE OF THE flying; Lemaître now looking at winners on Awards Night YEAR PRESENTED BY MONDO new challenges Domínguez claims award after finally 16 MONDO: winning world gold; Idowu steps out 10 SEASON REVIEW THE NEW PRESENTING of Edwards’ shadow 2009 – Another vintage year PARTNER FOR THE EUROPEAN for European athletics ATHLETICS AWARDS NIGHT

AWARDS EDITION 2 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|09 INSIDE TRACK Word from the President e Lif or f t Spor our Y

A time to celebrate European Athletics’ past, present and future

Hansjörg Wirz | President, European Athletics

I would like to congratulate Marta All four athletes were winners when With initiatives such as these awards, European Athletics is Domínguez, Phillips Idowu, Karoline it counted – at the European Athletics carrying out its goal to lead, inspire and equip the highest Bjerkeli Grøvdal and Christophe Lemaître Junior Championships in in the number of Europeans to enable them to form a loyal on their successful seasons and their cases of Norway’s Grøvdal and ’s relationship with athletics for life. deserved recognition at the European Lemaître and in at the IAAF Awards Night. Championships for ’s Domínguez It has been a long journey for European Athletics to arrive and Great Britain’s Idowu. at this point – a journey that began in the city of . Tens of thousands of votes poured in for Under the leadership of ’s Szilard Stankovits, the both the European Athlete of the Year and I also extend my congratulations to Thórdís European Committee of the IAAF met on January 7, 1934, European Athletics Rising Star categories Lilja Gísladóttir of Iceland and the other at the Gundel Restaurant – where, 75 years later, European and the final results were extremely close. national winners she is representing in our Athletics Council Members were to enjoy lunch this weekend inaugural European Athletics Women’s as part of our Convention. It was at this restaurant in 1934 The winners reflect the decisions made Leadership Awards. that the idea for the European Athletics Championships was by several groups of people: fans, media, formed. The first ever European Athletics Championships Member Federations and a panel of With these awards, European Athletics were staged in the same year. experts, with emotion and opinion making aims to promote the development of people’s minds up as much as facts and women leaders in our sport. Gender equity Over the years, the task of the European Committee gradually figures. is a fundamental value of the athletics increased to organise other competitions. The European Cup movement and these awards can raise (first staged in 1965) and then the European Indoor Games awareness of this issue by highlighting (first staged in 1966), which later became the European some of the stories of the many women Team Championships and European Athletics Indoor who demonstrate outstanding leadership Championships, came into being under this body. in athletics. And in November 1969, the Association of the European Members of the IAAF was constituted at a formal meeting of the European Committee of the IAAF in Bucharest. Then, the Stockholm Congress of the IAAF in August 1970 paved the way for the creation of the European Athletics Association. It came into force with its first Congress in in November 1970.

Our founding fathers can be proud of the way we have developed their vision into making European Athletics one of the world’s leading sports organisations. It is one which the eyes of the world fall on this weekend as we celebrate the past, present and future, with the continent’s best and brightest talent recognised for their achievements this season in the wonderful city where it all began.

14 EUROPEAN ATHLETICS WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP AWARDS Iceland’s Gísladóttir to represent winners on Awards Night

16 MONDO: THE NEW PRESENTING PARTNER FOR THE EUROPEAN The photo caption reads, “The Gundel restaurant was the venue for a historical ATHLETICS AWARDS NIGHT happening in sport on January 7, 1934.”

AWARDS EDITION INSIDE TRACK 2|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 3 Your Sport for Life EUROPEAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Domínguez claims award after finally winning world gold

If any Spanish athlete defines the word “reliable” it is Marta Domínguez. Time and again, the blonde hair and pink headband have been seen roaring down the home straight, Domínguez’s aggressive stride and never-say-die spirit putting fear into the opposition.

For years “la Palentina” has been in the impossible, she’s a fighter,” she said, vanguard of her country’s athletics and encapsulating her daughter’s tenacity. after seeking world gold following her near misses in Edmonton and Paris, Domínguez For Domínguez, Berlin was the culmination finally hit the jackpot in typically blazing of a lifetime quest: “I’ve finally fulfilled a style in Berlin. childhood dream,” she said.

That win has earned Domínguez the In fact, it was not that promising at the women’s European Athlete of the Year beginning, as the athlete points out: “I Award presented by MONDO. didn’t feel that good at the start. It took me a while to get into my rhythm,” she “This is a wonderful surprise for me and explained. crowns a perfect year,” said Domínguez. “It is a tribute not only to me but to “But little by little I improved and in the everyone who has helped me throughout end I fulfilled a lifetime’s ambition. In the the years.” end, it was the perfect race.

After three and five World “I’ve worked my whole life to be the best Championships, two European golds and in the world. First I tried in the 5000m, a stack of minor medals, the 33-year-old then I changed event because I needed from Palencia in Spain’s north-west finally a new motivation. In I was left picked up a global gold in the 3000m with only frustration and a yearning for steeplechase. more. But now I’ve done it in the 3000m steeplechase.” Time seemed to be running out for Domínguez to claim the ultimate prize of Typically for Dominguez, she dedicates a world title, but there is nothing like a bit everything she has achieved to those of motivation to bring the best out of an around her: “This has not only been the athlete of her calibre. fruits of my labours, but of a whole group of people who stand behind me and who After falling on the last lap at the 2008 deserve the same if not more merit than Olympic Games, it seemed as though I do.” the Gods were against her to claim a global crown, but Domínguez came back But Dominguez also reserves some praise stronger than ever this year to finally claim for the world record holder, Gulnara her birthright. Galkina of , who she relegated to fourth in Berlin: “She is still the best Despite all the words that have been because she is the world record holder, written, it is maybe her mother, Paquita, but in Berlin I was better,” declared the who best sums up her daughter’s qualities: Spaniard. “She never gives up, for her nothing is

AWARDS EDITION 4 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|09 INSIDE TRACK EUROPEAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR e Lif or f t Spor our Y

Marta Domínguez factfile

1975: November 03 – Born in Palencia, Spain. 1993: Gold in 1500m at European Athletics Junior Championships, San Sebastian/ESP. 1994: Silver in 1500m at World Junior Championships, Lisbon/POR. 1996: Bronze in 3000m at European Athletics Indoor Championships, Stockholm/SWE. 1998: Wins bronze in 5000m at European Athletics Championships, Budapest/HUN, and 3000m at European Athletics Indoor Championships, /ESP. 2000: Bronze in 3000m at European Athletics Indoor Championships, Gent/BEL. 2001: Silver in 5000m at IAAF World Championships, Edmonton/CAN. 2002: Gold in 5000m at European Athletics Championships, Munich/GER, and another gold in 3000m at European Athletics Indoor Championships, Vienna/AUS. 2003: Silver medals in 3000m and 5000m at IAAF World Indoor Championships, Birmingham/GBR, and IAAF World Championships, Paris/FRA. 2006: 5000m gold at European Athletics Championships, /SWE, and silver at SPAR European Cup, Malaga/ESP. 2007: 5000m silver at European Athletics Indoor Championships, Birmingham/GBR, and gold It was with 200m to go in the Bird’s Nest medal at SPAR European Cross Country stadium in Beijing that Domínguez fell In the crowd her husband and sister were Championships in Toro/ESP. at the third-last obstacle and suffered also wearing pink in a reflection of Marta’s 2009: Gold medal in 3000m steeplechase at IAAF World concussion. But the determined way she headband, while in the VIP stand Spain’s Championships in Berlin/GER. refused help and made her way back Interior Minister, Alfred Pérez-Rubalcaba, across the infield, barely containing her stood and applauded. frustration, suggested there was more to come. The whole season had been leading up to that moment and as she breasted the At the start of this season she decided tape Domínguez was rewarded with not to iron out her technique: “I set about only gold but her third Spanish national working on the technical weaknesses and steeplechase record of 2009, 9:07.32, a I worked so hard to get it right. This time time that topped the world rankings for when I got to the water jump, I was full of the year. confidence,” she said. It is 18 years since Dominguez clocked “Suddenly I wasn’t afraid of my rivals, only 10:15 for 3000m in her local proving that my legs would not hold out.” ground, Venta de Baños, and now she finally sits atop the world. It could not have She hardly needed to have worried. As happened to a more deserving athlete. soon as she made her move the gold was won and she pulled off her trademark pink headband and waved it euphorically.

AWARDS EDITION INSIDE TRACK 2|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 5 Your Sport for Life EUROPEAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Idowu steps out of Edwards’ shadow

For so long Jonathan Edwards has been the name British fans have associated with the , but now his heir apparent, Phillips Idowu, has usurped the mantle after his stunning win in the Berlin .

Bouncing back from bitter defeat in Beijing when he was cast as favourite, Idowu swept away the opposition to place himself firmly amongst the elite of his discipline and once and forall throw off the tag of underachiever.

Idowu’s win at the IAAF World Championships has earned the extrovert triple jumper the men’s European Athlete of the Year Award presented by MONDO.

“This is really cool,” commented Phillips Idowu on the award. “It sets the seal on a great year for me. To be picked as European Athlete of the Year when there are so many fine athletes competing for the honour means a lot to me and vindicates all the sacrifices I have made.”

Thirty is a good age for Idowu, an age where it all finally came together in Berlin to defeat his demons, grab gold and fulfill his destiny: “Hop, step and jump, personal best, world lead, world champion, what more can I say,” commented Idowu, neatly summing up the situation.

It was all so different from 12 months previously when he had gone into the Beijing Olympics with all guns blazing but only came away with silver. But his response to that defeat by archrival Nelson Évora of Portugal was the key to his success in 2009.

“What happened last year?” he queries, making it clear the But a measured start to the season “Regardless of me now being No. 1, it’s past is the past: “I had to move forward, I couldn’t dwell on the culminated in the most spectacular not good enough because I’m not Olympic negativity.” fireworks display imaginable, erasing his champion or the world record holder. So, six-year-old PB of 17.68 and leaving it at until that point, I’m always going to be The summer of 2009 started with a windy 17.60m win in Chania, a more respectable 17.73 drawn in the No. 2 in the UK,” he said. , 1 June, followed three days later by a legal 17.60 in Turin. Berlin sand. At the inaugural SPAR European Team Championships in Leiria, But Idowu is ready to attack the first target Portugal, Idowu claimed second spot with 17.50. Now there are other, far-reaching goals. in 2012: “I’ve got three more years of Any British triple jumper worth his salt has work, three more years of training, three At the world trials in Birmingham, Idowu only took one jump to contend with the inevitable comparisons more years of competition to perfect my to clinch the title, a modest 17.05, and then spent the rest of with world record holder Edwards, Olympic craft and hopefully if I get on the board I the afternoon chatting with friends in the stands on the back and world champion in his day. Winning in should be looking at an 18m jump and if straight. It seemed like a deliberate policy to keep a low profile Berlin and breaking Edwards’ British indoor that’s what it takes to win in 2012 as opposed to the high-profile strategy of the Olympic year. Third record in 2008 brought Idowu closer, but I’ll be happy.” place in his home Grand Prix at Crystal Palace underlined the not close enough. laid-back strategy.

AWARDS EDITION 6 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|09 INSIDE TRACK EUROPEAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR e Lif or f t Spor our Y

Phillips Idowu factfile

1978: December 30 – Born in Hackney, London. 1997: Wins English Schools Triple Jump, fourth at European Athletics Junior Championships in Ljubljana/SLO. 2000: Finishes sixth in Olympic Triple Jump final. 2001: Wins gold at SPAR European Cup in Bremen/GER. 2002: Takes silver with personal-best 17.68m behind Jonathan Edwards in Manchester. Fifth at European Athletics Championships in Munich/GER. 2004: Leads Olympic qualification in but fails to make it to final cut of eight. 2006: Wins Commonwealth Games gold in . Fifth at the European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg/SWE. 2007: Wins gold medal at European Athletics Indoor Championships, Birmingham/GBR, with meet record of 17.56m. 2008: Wins world indoor title, breaking Edwards’ Commonwealth and UK record with jump of 17.35m. Jumps 17.62 at Beijing Olympics in August but only takes silver behind Portugal’s Nelson Évora. 2009: Loses out to Évora in June at SPAR European Team Championships in Leiria/POR. Gains revenge in August in Berlin by becoming world champion with leap of 17.73m, a personal best.

Edwards was 34 before he finally struck to go: 18.40 is what I consider myself gold in Sydney and Idowu will be one year capable of if I get my run-through right.” younger by the time London comes round. But age is not a special issue for him: “I Easily the most identifiable of the world’s still feel quite youthful,” Idowu has said. “I triple jumpers, Idowu currently sports hope to keep going for a few years longer. eight body piercings, and a variety of It’s going to be tough because there are hair colourings, though red seems to be people coming up, people improving and in favour of late: “I’m comfortable like a lot of younger athletes. I look around the this,” he explains. “If I want to change start list and I’m one of the oldest athletes the colour of my hair then I change it. I jumping, but I’m still beating them young don’t really want to be categorised like kids. I still want to get out there.” anyone else.”

As for the world record of 18.29, Idowu is He hardly need fear on that score. World categorical: “I know I’ve nowhere reached champion and now European Athlete of my potential yet, there’s still much more the Year. He’s in a category all to himself.

AWARDS EDITION INSIDE TRACK 2|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 7 Your Sport for Life EUROPEAN ATHLETICS RISING STAR Grøvdal keeps Norwegian flag flying

Norwegian athletics is going through some great times at the moment and the reigning Olympic and world Javelin champion isn’t the only name on people’s lips in Scandinavia and elsewhere in Europe.

Let’s now turn the clock back a few Her second victory came barely 24 hours months to the European Athletics Junior later on the final day, with the heat still in Championships. the mid-20s despite overcast conditions.

Her first gold medal came in impressive Grøvdal shot into the lead straight from fashion on the penultimate day, in hot the gun and never had any company after conditions with the temperature gauge the first kilometre, eventually winning by reading 25 degrees, as the blonde-haired despite easing up on the final runner from Isfjorden defended the 3000m lap. She crossed the line in 15:45.45 to steeplechase title she had won two years become the only female to win two previously in the Dutch town of Hengelo. individual gold medals in Novi Sad.

Grøvdal finished 70m clear of her nearest “I used the same tactics that I had done rival after laying down the gauntlet from to win the Steeplechase. Go out hard, the gun and stopped the clock in 9:43.46, take the lead and get into a fast rhythm. It to improve on her own championship worked,” reflected Grøvdal. record from 2007. By the end of the season, she also topped Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal has started to follow in the footsteps All her opponents were at least 15 metres the 2009 European junior rankings at of Norwegian female distance running icons such as Grete Waitz adrift after the first kilometre which both her gold medal events, thanks to and Ingrid Kristiansen and her outstanding 3000m steeplechase Grøvdal audaciously passed in 3:10.61, a superb performances on home soil early and 5000m double triumph at the European Athletics Junior time which put her on course to break her in the summer. Championships in Novi Sad has consolidated her status as a star own European junior record of 9:33.19. in the making. She slowed during the second kilometre Grøvdal ran 9:33.34 for the 3000m but behind her the rest of the field was steeplechase at the ÅF Golden League Her feats in ’s second city back in July helped earn her the wilting and although the chances of her meeting in on 3 July, which was 2009 European Athletics Rising Star of the Year Award presented breaking the European junior record had the second fastest European junior by MONDO. severely diminished by the time she reached performance ever over the barriers and the 2000m mark, her advantage over the only beaten by her own European junior “I was stunned when I got the news and I’m very proud. It’s chasers had stretched to 50 metres. record. a great honour to get an award like this,” commented the delighted Grøvdal. Her lead continued to grow over the Two weeks earlier, Grøvdal had set a final two laps and despite visibly easing Norwegian junior record over 5000m “It also says a lot about the good things going on in Norwegian off down the home straight, she still had when she ran 15:29.82 at the European athletics. I’m proud that I’m following in the footsteps of Andreas plenty of time to raise her arms in triumph Team Championships First League Thorkildsen, who won the European Athlete of the Year award five metres from the line, with meeting in Bergen on 20 June, to move last year, and Trine Hattestad has also won in the past. runner-up Layes Abdullayeva yet to clear up to sixth place in the European all-time the final barrier. junior rankings over the distance. “We now have a good new generation of athletes emerging. I saw that Christina Vukicevic and Ezinne Okparaebo were also in “I am happy because all my hopes and Her first race of the winter was set to the running for this award,” she added. dreams came true. I am a girl from be at the Norwegian Cross Country northern Europe, and I have to say I prefer Championships in Jessheim on 3 October Grøvdal’s two compatriots finished third and fourth respectively the Norwegian climate, but the high and Grøvdal has also kept open the in this year’s poll while she herself becomes the third female temperature didn’t disturb me at all. I possibility that she will compete at the SPAR recipient of the award after its inauguration in 2007, following slowed down at the end, but it didn’t have European Cross Country Championships in the footsteps of two British winners: firstly Jessica Ennis and any effect on the result,” said Grøvdal in Dublin on 13 December. then Stephanie Twell last year. after her Steeplechase win.

AWARDS EDITION 8 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|09 INSIDE TRACK EUROPEAN ATHLETICS RISING STAR e Lif or f t Spor our Y Lemaître now looking at new challenges

The 19-year-old sprinter and 2009 European Athletics Rising Will Europe soon have a challenger to the phenomenal Usain Bolt? Star of the Year presented by MONDO is well aware of what people are saying. “It’s flattering but I prefer not to think about It has been a question on many people’s minds ever since France’s it. I prefer to remain myself and I do not care really what happens around me.” Christophe Lemaître set a new European 100m junior record of

Lemaître seems well adjusted to his new status as the continent’s 10.04 seconds in July. great sprint hope. “I have no problem with the attention that is being focussed on me. It’s all fine, but I still prefer to concentrate on actually running,” added the teenager from Aix-les-Bains.

However, there are certain physical similarities between Lemaître and the Jamaican who has changed the face of sprinting, indeed the sport as a whole, in the last two seasons.

He’s tall and lean in comparison to many, more muscular, sprinters, including his compatriot Ronald Pognon whose French record of 9.99 he has in his sights for next season. He flew to a heavily wind-assisted 10.03 100m in Forbach on 31 May to catch “After the European juniors, I went to the World Championships everyone’s attention again and then set in Berlin with the ambition of going below 10 seconds and a French junior 100m record of 10.17 getting the French record. I didn’t feel any pressure, even though when winning at the French Junior competing alongside the seniors at a World Championships is Championships in Bondoufle on 10 June. another universe from junior competition. However, it didn’t go that way. I was disqualified for a false start in my second race,” However, all this was a prelude to the reflected Lemaître, who currently stands 1.92m in his running fireworks he produced in Novi Sad, a race spikes. which has become a hit among athletics aficionados on YouTube. In the European Athletics Junior Championships 100m final in Novi Sad, Serbia, Lemaître produced a superb start when the Ironically, it was to be the peak of his spotlight was on him. He was quickest out of his blocks – with season. Lemaître had hoped to add a the amazing reaction time for a tall sprinter of 0.120 – and was 4x100m relay gold to his list of accolades straight into his running. in Novi Sad but some sloppy work by his compatriots during their heat meant the In warm conditions with the temperature gauge reading 33 baton never reached him. degrees, but with virtually no following wind, there was a yawning gap between himself and the rest of the field by 40 His disqualification in Berlin was also a metres and Lemaître never gave his rivals a chance to come back Lemaître has been on everybody’s radar disappointment but he bounced back to at him. since some impressive performances at the anchor the French 4x100m relay quartet to 2007 IAAF World Youth Championships, eighth place in the World Championships He stopped the clock at 10.04 and consigned the previous where he finished fourth and fifth final. European junior record of 10.06, set by when respectively over 100m and 200m. Last the British sprinter won at the 1997 European Athletics Junior year, he concentrated more on the longer If Lemaître remains calm about the fact Championships, to history. sprint and won the world junior 200m that he may be lining up against Bolt in title in 20.83. the coming seasons, the question then has “I was only focused getting to the top of the podium. Of course, to be, “What does Bolt think about the I was motivated to register a good time but in a championship it This year started as he left off last summer, fact that he may soon have a European is always at the bottom of the list of priorities,” added Lemaître clocking a French junior indoor 60m record rival?” after his record run. of 6.64 in February before quickly showing what he was capable of outdoors. “He looks impressive. He’s young, he’s “I thought that the junior record of France might come, but the fast. I honestly don’t know much about European record, I did not expect at all. I am a bit speechless,” him but his times speak for themselves he said at the time. and I’ve got to respect that,” said Bolt appreciatively when quizzed about Lemaître recently.

AWARDS EDITION INSIDE TRACK 2|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 9 Your Sport for Life SEASON REVIEW 2009 – Another vintage year for European athletics

Phil Minshull looks back at the major athletics The roll call of honours is too long to be surprised to see the name of Russia’s look at each gold medallist separately but Yelena Isinbayeva missing from the last events since the start of the year that once again special mention must go to ’s Anita few paragraphs but the “queen of pole Wlodarczyk, who set a Hammer world vaulting” amazingly failed to clear a have kept European athletics to the fore. record of 77.96m en route to victory; and height at the World Championships. Croatian High jumper Blanka Vlašić – the Every year leaves positive memories for European Athletics and 2007 European Athlete of the Year – who Nevertheless, the 2008 European Athlete 2009 is no different. was one of only six individual winners of the Year bounced back just a week later in Berlin to defend their titles from two to set a world record of 5.06m in . Gold medals, world records, individual and team triumphs have years ago. all contributed to this year going into history books as another She won at all six ÅF Golden League one to savour. Other particular highlights in Berlin meetings across the summer – all of which included Russia’s Sergey Kirdyapkin striding were staged on European soil – to become The highlight on the 2009 global calendar was the IAAF World to the 50km Walk gold medal in 3:38.35, one of just three athletes to share in the Championships in August that was also a showcase for the Great Britain’s Phillips Idowu winning the $1 million jackpot for going undefeated continent, not only on the track with European athletes taking Triple Jump in 17.73m, Spain’s Marta during this summer’s series. 14 gold medals, but also for the local organisers in Berlin who Domínguez taking a memorable 3000m can take pride in the fact that most pundits considered it to be steeplechase victory in 9:07.32 and Great Turning our attention to European the best organised World Championships ever. Britain’s Jessica Ennis accumulating 6731 Athletics events, the year started off in points to win the . exciting fashion at the European Athletics The championships gave the continent’s top stars the chance to Indoor Championships in March. test themselves against the best from the rest of the world but it The performances of all four athletes also acted as a long-distance form guide for the 2010 European were the best in their event anywhere in The highlights in the Italian city of Torino Athletics Championships, with many of those successful in Berlin the world this year. In the case of Idowu were, without doubt, the two European already looking to continue their winning ways in . and Domínguez, their feats contributed to indoor records set there. them also receiving the accolade of 2009 European Athlete of the Year. ’s took the “It was interesting that I did not feel any pressure European indoor record In addition, France’s Bob Tahri also set a from 8.56m to a stunning 8.71m. “Truly coming into today’s competition. I knew I was in European 3000m steeplechase record of Beamonesque,” enthused the respected good shape, and this world record confirms that I’m 8:01.18 when getting a bronze medal publication Athletics International, which here and ready to jump high.” over the barriers. is not usually given to hyperbole.

Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva, after her world record Anybody who went on a long holiday Great Britain’s Dwain Chambers flew to a of 5.06m in Zurich. in August, or turned off their TV, might 60m record of 6.42 in the semi-final and

2009 TIMELINE: EUROPEAN ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

March 6-8 March 14-15 May 30-31 30th European Athletics Indoor European Cup Winter Throwing, Los Realejos (ESP) – Germany’s European Champion Clubs Cup, Castellon Championships, Torino (ITA) – Russia win men and Romania’s women win the team competitions. Estonia’s (ESP) – Luch (RUS) win both the 10 gold medals. European indoor records reigning Olympic Discus champion Gerd Kanter throws 69.70m. men’s and women’s titles. from Great Britain’s Dwain Chambers, 60m 6.42; Germany’s Sebastian Bayer, Long May 24 June 6 Jump 8.71m. Championship records from 8th European Cup Race Walking, Metz (FRA) – ’s Giorgio 13th European Cup 10000m Ribeira Great Britain’s Mohammed Farah, 3000m Rubino wins the men’s 20km in 1:24.08 and leads Italy to team Brava (POR) – Spain’s Chema Martinez & 7:40.17 and Italy’s , Triple gold; Russia’s Denis Nizhegorodov wins the men’s 50km in Portugal’s Inês Monteiro are the individual Jump 17.59m. 3:42.47 and leads his team to the gold medals; Spain’s Maria winners, 27:51.61 and 31:34.17 Vasco wins the women’s 20km in 1:32.53, Russia takes the team respectively. Portugal take both team competition. competitions.

AWARDS EDITION 10 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|09 INSIDE TRACK SEASON REVIEW e Lif or f t Spor our Y

“I’m just in shock really. It’s not really sunk in. The year that I had last year was so horrible. I had to focus 100 percent on the World Championships and my realistic aim was to come here and win a medal. I didn’t think it would be a gold medal.”

Great Britain’s Jessica Ennis after claiming gold in the Heptathlon at the IAAF World Championships.

then matched the former mark of 6.46 in ran 1:58.62 in a top-class 800m, and from the final. Germany’s Christina Obergföll, who threw 68.59 for an outstanding Javelin victory Two further championship records were set over her great rivals: ’s when Italy’s Fabrizio Donato delighted the Barbora Spotáková and Russia’s Mariya home crowed with a national Triple Jump Abakumova. Both the winning marks record of 17.59m while Great Britain’s were world-leading performances at that Mohammed Farah won the 3000m from point in the season. the front in 7:40.17. Europe’s emerging athletes had the Russia were the dominant nation in spotlight shone on them in July at the Torino, winning 10 gold medals but European Athletics Junior Championships predictions that they were also going to in Novi Sad, Serbia, and the European easily lift the inaugural SPAR European Athletics U23 Championships in , Team Championships at the start of the Lithuania. summer proved to be wide of the mark as Germany emerged triumphant from the At the former event, France’s Christophe closely-fought contest in Leiria, Portugal. Lemaître set a stunning European junior 100m record of 10.04. The 19-year- The top performance of the championship, old broke Chambers’ former record of however, came from . 10.06 and made him the second fastest The 22-year-old pole vaulter sailed over a European of any age this season. French record of 6.01m to go equal third on the European all-time list and his leap Lemaître beat Azerbaijan’s Ramil Guliyev, topped the outdoor world rankings this who had previously topped the junior list year. with 10.08.

Other outstanding performances came However, the 2009 World University from the ’s Yuliya Krevsun, who Games 200m champion, who had set a

“This victory was much harder for me than when I won in 2005 in . However, it’s more satisfying as well. Russia took all three walking titles here in Berlin and mine was the last one. Never in the history of the World Championships has one nation achieved such a feat.”

Russia’s Sergey Kirdyapkin after winning the 50km Walk at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin. Sebastian Bayer and celebrate their 1-2 finish in the Long Jump at the European Athletics Indoor Championships.

Hanna Melnychenko 2009 TIMELINE: EUROPEAN ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

June 20-21 June 27-28 1st SPAR European Team Championships, Leiria (POR) – Germany European Cup Combined Events, Super win, Renaud Lavillenie sets French Pole Vault record of 6.01m. League, Szczecin (POL) – Russia’s men and 1st European Team Championships, 1st League, Bergen (NOR) – Poland’s women win team competitions. Belarus win, and Norway also promoted. Belarus’ Andrei Krauchanka, 8336 pts, 1st European Team Championships, 2nd League, Banska Bystrica and Ukraine’s , 6380 (SVK) – Lithuania win, Ireland also promoted. pts, are the individual champions. 1st European Team Championships, 3rd League, Sarajevo (BIH) – Israel win, Moldova also promoted. July 8-12 6th IAAF World Youth Championships, Bressanone (ITA) – European athletes get 16 gold medals, Great Britain’s wins 100m and 200m double.

AWARDS EDITION INSIDE TRACK 2|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 11 Your Sport for Life SEASON REVIEW

European junior record of 20.04 earlier in in Novi Sad was Norway’s Karoline Bjerkeli July, went on to get some compensation Grøvdal who, like Lemaître, was to be “It was a very long competition and the conditions in Novi Sad by winning his specialist event voted 2009 European Athletics Rising Star were very hot but the public was amazing. The mark in 20.33, which was still faster than any of the Year. was great, it’s my personal best, a national record, so European other than himself ran this year. I’m very happy with that.” On successive days, Grøvdal won the In a stellar championships for Azerbaijan, women’s 3000m steeplechase, improving France’s Renaud Lavillenie after finishing first in the Pole Vault Guliyev was actually beaten to the honour the championship best she set in 2007, at the SPAR European Team Championships in Leiria, Portugal. of becoming his country’s first ever and then the 5000m. medallist by Hayle Ibrahimov, the winner of the 10000m and then the 5000m. German shot putter David Storl was “Why, why, why, I jumped so far? I still don’t have an another star in Novi Sad. Two days before answer. What I know is that I was in good shape and The only other individual double champion his 19th birthday, he produced a brilliant I was ready to attack the German indoor record (the 20-year-old 8.25m by two-time former European Indoor champion ). But the sort of distance I jumped, I didn’t think it was possible.”

German long jumper Sebastian Bayer after producing a European indoor record of 8.71m in Torino.

display of shot putting with the 6kg implement, winning by over two metres with 22.40m, a mark only ever beaten by himself.

Earlier in 2009, Storl became the first junior ever to go beyond 22 metres. His world junior record stands at 22.73m.

The best women’s field event performance came in the Long Jump with 6.80m by Russia’s Darya Klishina while Romania’s Bianca Perie retained her Hammer title with a championship record of 68.59m to add to her huge collection of gold medals. The third woman to retain her title from the last edition in Hengelo two Ariane Friedrich, Sabrina Mockenhaupt and Christina Obergfoell years ago was Romania’s Mirela Lavric in the 800m.

“The decisive factor was the attitude of the team as a whole and right In Kaunas, there were four new championship records, two of from the start. I’m not going to single out any individual from the team them going to the host’s neighbours Latvia. Madara Palmeika because this was an all-round team effort. Individualists have become added almost seven metres to her pre-championship personal best when she won the Javelin with 64.51m while Aiga Grabuste a team.” took the Heptathlon with a national record of 6396 points. Germany’s head coach for track events Rüdiger Harksen, after his country had won the The other new records came from Finland’s Ari Mannio, who SPAR European Team Championships. threw 84.57m in the Javelin, and Russia’s Yelena Kofanova,

2009 TIMELINE: EUROPEAN ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

July 8 Russia’s Yelena Kofanova, 800m 1:58.94; 8th European Mountain Running and the Latvians Madara Palmeika, Javelin Championships (uphill), Telfes im Stubai 64.51m, and Aiga Grabuste, Heptathlon (AUT) – ’s Ahmet Arslan and 6396pts. Switzerland’s Martina Strähl win the individual gold medals. Italy takes both the July 23-26 men’s and women’s senior team titles. 20th European Athletics Junior Championships Novi Sad (SRB) – Germany July 16-19 win 10 gold medals, 11 championship 7th European Athletics U23 Championships records. France’s Christophe Lemaître European Athletics Junior Championships -- Novi Sad 2009 Kaunas (LTU) – Russian win 12 gold runs European junior 100m record 10.04. medals. Four championship records: Double individual victories for Azerbaijan’s and Norway’s Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal (3000m steeplechase Finland’s Ari Mannio, Javelin 84.57m; Hayle Ibrahimov (5000m and 10000m) and 5000m).

AWARDS EDITION 12 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|09 INSIDE TRACK SEASON REVIEW e Lif or f t Spor our Y

Blanka Vlašić Jessica Ennis Renaud Lavillenie

“This is very special for so many reasons. This is who won the 800m in 1:58.94. The only The year is not over yet either. There are individual champion from 2007 to retain the 16th SPAR European Cross Country the last year for the Golden League, so that is their title was Belarus Hammer thrower Championships to look forward to in very special. And it’s especially great after what Yuriy Shayunov. December. happened in Berlin.”

Beyond the more high profile Ireland’s capital Dublin will be the host Pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva after winning $333,333.33 for championships, Estonia’s reigning Olympic this year and the Ukraine’s eight-time going undefeated at the summer’s six Golden League meetings. Discus champion Gerd Kanter lived up champion Sergey Lebid has already to his star billing at this year’s European confirmed that he wants to keep up his Cup Winter Throwing event, throwing a streak of being the only person to have “It’s been a great privilege to be here. I wanted to run massive 69.70m on the Spanish island of competed at every championship. quicker but I just had to concentrate on winning. I’ve Tenerife in March. been in this situation before where I concentrated In the women’s senior race, the Spain’s Chema Martinez won the European ’ Hilda Kibet is expected to on time and I’ve lost it. This is a very important Cup 10000m in 27:51.61 while Portugal’s defend her title but could face tough championship for me. I’ve done what I set out to do Inês Monteiro took the women’s race in a opposition from Marta Domínguez, the so that is what I am pleased about.” personal best of 31:34.17. Hosts Portugal 2007 champion. took both the men’s and the women’s British sprinter Dwain Chambers after setting the European team competitions. indoor 60m record in the Torino semi-final and then getting the gold in the final.

2009 TIMELINE: EUROPEAN ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

Aug 15-23 Aug 28 Sept 19 12th IAAF World Championships Berlin (GER) – European ÅF Golden League meeting, Zurich (SUI) – European Champion Clubs Cup junior athletes get 14 gold medals, 18 silver and 20 bronze. Poland’s Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva sets Pole Vault competition – Sport Club Moscow (RUS) Anita Wlodarczyk sets Hammer world record of 77.96m. Russia’s world record of 5.06m. win both the men’s and women’s titles. Sergey Kirdyapkin, 50km Walk 3:38.35; Great Britain’s Phillips Idowu, Triple Jump 17.73m; Spain’s Marta Domínguez, 3000m Sept 4 And still to come... steeplechase 9:07.32, and Great Britain’s Jessica Ennis, Heptathlon ÅF Golden League meeting, Dec 13: 16th SPAR European Cross 6731pts, all win their gold medals with the best performances in (BEL) – Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva goes Country Championships Dublin (IRL). the world in 2009. France’s Bob Tahri sets a European 3000m undefeated throughout the 2009 Golden steeplechase record of 8:01.18 when finishing third. league and wins a one-third share of the $1 million jackpot.

AWARDS EDITION INSIDE TRACK 2|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 13 Your Sport for Life WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP AWARDS Iceland’s Gísladóttir to represent winners on Awards Night

Thórdís Lilja Gísladóttir of Iceland has been selected to represent the 24 national winners for the first-ever European Athletics Women’s Leadership Awards ceremony at the European Athletics Awards Night presented by MONDO.

Inside Track had the opportunity to speak with Gísladóttir European Athletics would like about the awards ahead of the ceremony: to promote the development of women leaders at both the national Congratulations on your European Athletics Women’s and European levels. Are there any Leadership Award. How does it feel to be named as the factors that you think are particularly representative of all the winners in this year’s awards? important to address? She is to receive the award from European I am surprised and happy to receive this honour. I am thankful It is important to form an organisation Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz on for this award which is for sure one of the biggest recognitions for former women competitors and other behalf of all the other laureates, who in I have received in my career. I hope this award will encourage women volunteers in athletics, a special turn will be given their awards at national women to work for athletics and to give their valuable experience network where women could share ceremonies. back to the sport. ideas, experiences and encourage each other. This network could help women Gísladóttir, 48, In your career, you have been successful in many roles in take their first steps into the leaders’ has long been athletics and sport in general. What do you think are the roles in the sport. Furthermore it could known as one main factors that have contributed to your interest and gather information on where women of the leading accomplishments? are needed to work and help to point lights in Icelandic My greatest motivation and encouragement comes from out the best candidate. I also believe athletics and my husband who is a former decathlete. He has inspired me we need to appeal to the responsibility her career has to contribute to the sport after my athletic career. Another of the women who have trained and featured many contributing factor is what I have learned from good coaches competed in athletics and got fantastic roles at the local, and from the sport itself. For example, the work ethic that you training for life in general through their national and learn in athletics by training, competing and also interacting participation. These women need to i n t e r n a t i o n a l with people, which is a valuable experience. My passion for the help as many other girls as possible to levels. She has been a top high jumper, sport and my vision for the complex purpose of sport in society get the same positive experience. They a coach, a special programme leader, a motivate me to work in leadership roles. I believe that through can do that by taking responsibility and teacher at all levels from nursery school sport you can accomplish so many positive things for people, leadership roles at all levels for the sport to university, a researcher in sport related community and nations. And last but not least it is my strong and in that way continue to be role issues and a member of various committees belief that all committees and organisations would benefit from models, especially for the girls, who are within the sports movement. the input from both sexes and it is important that women with about 50 percent of the participants in knowledge of the sport give their time and effort to the sport. our great sport. They need a woman Like the other 23 laureates, Gísladóttir leader at all levels in as many positions was chosen by her national federation to as possible. receive the award from European Athletics in recognition of her outstanding service and contributions to the sport. The scholarships were selected by a European Athletics In contrast to awards, which recognise accomplishments and jury and are to be announced during successes already achieved, education is about looking forward the European Athletics Awards Dinner and preparing people for the future. presented by MONDO. With this in mind, European Athletics will cooperate with the University of Lausanne and the International Academy of Sport A second set of scholarships will be Science and Technology in Lausanne to create an intensive, awarded in 2010. week-long training programme for young women who have been identified as future leaders in athletics. European Athletics’ Member Federations have submitted For further information see the European applications for full scholarships to the programme, which will Athletics website: be delivered in the summer of 2010. Three scholarship winners www.european-athletics.org

AWARDS EDITION 14 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|09 INSIDE TRACK WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP AWARDS e Lif or f t Spor our Y

The national winners The European Athletics Women’s Leadership Award jury Satenik Ghayaryan – Armenia Sonja Spendelhofer – Sylvia Barlag, Netherlands – Tatsiana Ledouskaja – Belarus European Athletics Council member Dominique Gavage – Belgium and Vice President of the Royal Dutch Liliyana Videva – Bulgaria Athletics Federation Dana Zatopkova – Czech Republic John Antonakis, Switzerland – Susanne Hedeager – Denmark Professor of Organisational Behaviour, Sirje Lippe – Estonia University of Lausanne, Switzerland Eila Kelo – Finland Ilse Bechthold, Gemany – Honorary Odile Diagana – France Chairperson of the IAAF Women’s Steffi Nerius – Germany Committee and former Vice President Maria Zarokanellou-Sotirakopoulou of the Deutscher Leichtathletik – Greece Verband Thórdis Lilja Gísladóttir coaches (above) and competes (below) Ildikó Dornbach – Hungary Thórdís Lilja Gísladóttir – Iceland Maeve Kyle – Ireland Zehava Smiueli – Israel Zita Tindziuliene – Lithuania Alexandra Marghieva – Moldova Simone Martine Richardson – Netherlands Unni Helland – Norway Ann Axelsson – Sweden Eveline Hedler – Switzerland Nese Gundogan – Turkey Tetyana Klevakina – Ukraine

European Athletics Women’s Leadership Awards: 24 laureates, one winner

What are the European Athletics Women’s Leadership How are the award winners selected? d’Arts et Communication in Lausanne. It Awards? Each European Athletics Member will be seen publically for the first time The European Athletics Women’s Leadership Awards are prizes Federation was invited to choose one at the ceremony in Budapest. The other presented to women leaders in recognition of outstanding deserving woman from their country to national winners will receive an exact service and contributions to the sport of athletics. The awards receive the award. The federations are copy of the same work. are given by European Athletics in cooperation with its Member free to use whatever process or means Federations. Each prize consists of a specially commissioned they see as appropriate to make their What is the symbolism of the artwork work of art and a personal certificate. choice. For 2009, the first edition of the prize? awards, 24 federations participated and Giving the same prize to all the laureates Why are the awards given? named winners. of 2009 links them to a unique, Gender equality is a fundamental value of the athletics international network of women leaders movement. Approximately 50 percent of registered athletes in How was the representative of the for the rest of their lives. It is hoped that Europe are female but with each step up the sports leadership winners chosen for the Awards they will develop the links, drawing on ladder (coaches, competition officials, club leaders, federation Night? each others’ inspiration and ideas for the leaders, etc.) the percentage of women decreases. With this To represent her fellow laureates at the good of athletics. imbalance, the sport is not maximising its potential and may European Athletics Awards Night, one become less attractive to young women participants in the out of all the national winners has been How can I find out more about the future. The awards are a part of European Athletics’ strategy to selected by a European Athletics jury. award winners? address the situation at both the national and European levels. So that the jury process was completely In the coming weeks and months, the anonymous, all names and country Women’s Leadership Awards section of What are the aims of the awards? references that could identify a candidate the European Athletics website (www. “The overall aim of these awards is to raise awareness of the issues were removed from the applications. european-athletics.org) will feature related to women and leadership in athletics,” says European profiles of each of this year’s laureates Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz. “We believe that involving What is the artwork part of the as well as background articles on gender our federations in recognising some of the many women who prize? and leadership issues. demonstrate outstanding leadership, whatever their position At the Awards Night, the representative or level in the sport, will help to change attitudes, breakdown is to be given an original piece of artwork barriers and create more opportunities for women to help our chosen from entries submitted by young sport grow. In the end, athletics will be the real winner.” women artists from the Ecole Romande

AWARDS EDITION INSIDE TRACK 2|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 15 Your Sport for Life

MONDO: The new presenting partner for the European Athletics Awards Night

The 2008 European Athletes of the Year Yelena Isinbayeva (centre right) and Andreas Thorkildsen (centre left) and European Athletics Rising Stars Stephanie Twell (right) and Raphael Holzdeppe (second from left) are joined by European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz (second from right) and Director General Christian Milz at last year’s awards night.

MONDO and European Athletics are pleased to announce their partnership for the European Athletics Awards Night, with the Italian sports flooring and equipment manufacturer being the presenting partner of the event.

The European Athletics Awards Night is held every year during a committed partner and their tracks and the European Athletics Convention in mid-October, and this time equipment help our athletes achieve their around it is hosted here in Budapest, Hungary. best performances."

Every year during this prestigious gala night, a number of awards MONDO is an industrial group specialised are presented to reward the best of European Athletics: in the production of sport, commercial and industrial floorings as well as the whole The European Athlete of the Year (men/women) range of sport equipment, seating and The European Athletics Rising Star of the Year (men/women) electronic systems on the highest standard, The European Athletics Women's Leadership Awards with manufacturing units in Europe, The European Athletics Innovation Awards (every two years) North America and Asia and references in over 140 countries. In addition to the Maurizio Stroppiana, President of MONDO, said, "This presenting above, MONDO has two other production partnership is the logical result of our long-standing commitment divisions for toys and professional balls, to sports in general and European Athletics in particular. We have and luxury motor yachts. been looking for a corporate event that matches with our high quality products and this event which rewards best performances The company is world market leader in many areas is just the perfect match." in sport, having supplied the world's most prestigious track and field facilities Hansjörg Wirz, President of European Athletics, added, "We are including the last nine editions of the very happy to have MONDO on our side for this event. They are Olympic Games. AWARDS EDITION 16 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|09 INSIDE TRACK