European runner-up the huge Katerina Stefanidis! The Greek pole vault champion, after an incredible race in Rome, which turned into a thriller, won the silver medalthe 5th streak, regardless of color, in the European Open, and 12th in total in her career, while she achieved, of course, the limit for Paris Olympics!
THE 34-year-old athlete found in terrible situation, being the first to clear all heights up to 4.73 meters (4.43, 4.58, 4.68, 4.73) and given that only two other gymnasts managed to reach this height – and in fact, having lost attempts – secured an early medal in the event! A medal, which could be gold, if the Angelica Moser he didn’t put up a great fight either!
The girl from Switzerland, despite having a failed attempt at 4.73, as well as at a previous height, immediately set the bar at 4.78 and passing it for the first time in her career, also setting a Swiss record, “stole” the gold from Stefanidi! Stefanidis tried, of course, at 4.78 immediately after, but did not even attempt to pass the bar, leaving the next two attempts for 4.83, in which she failed.
As far as big favouritethe British woman Molly Condery, stayed in 3rd place, with 4.73m. and she (passed it with 2nd unlike Stefanidis), winning the bronze medal.
The 2022 European champion, Vilna Mortomoreover, he was not in the condition he would have liked, and closed at 4.43 meters.
Stefanidis, it should be noted, sat with her back on the mattress for most of the match, in order to stay focused and not see what her opponents were doing, while celebrate all her efforts with the members of the team and the Greek fans who were in the “Olympic” stands.
Stefanidis has recently been having problems with her foot, which worsened after Saturday’s qualifier. So struggled with painkillers, in order to alleviate the discomforts and make her struggle undisturbed. Even so he did what he had long known he could do – even if it was at the end of the race she was celebrating and telling Emmanuel Karalis to bring her a stroller to pick her up!
The experienced athlete has as of today, as we mentioned above, in her possession five medals in European open, two gold and three silver, while he participated for the 10th time in the final of the European Championships in open and closed track!
More specifically, Katerina Stefanidis had won the silver medal in the European and in 2014 in Zurich and in the previous event in 2022 at Munichwhile in between she had won gold and was crowned European champion in 2016 in Amsterdam and in 2018 at Berlin. It is recalled that Stefanidi was named a gold medalist in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and world champion in 2017 at Londonwhile she had taken the bronze in her World Doha in 2019.
This is the second medal for Greece at the European Championships in Rome, after the gold won by Miltos Tedogloulast Saturday in the length final.
The tournament concludes on Wednesday and Greece will have other opportunities for distinction, since their qualification to the finals of the competitions has been secured by Emmanuel Karalis in the pole vault and the current European javelin champion Elina Jengo! Of course the incredible Emmanuilidou will be in the final of the 200 meters!
The athlete is the holder of the event record with 4.85 m since 2018, while with 4.55 m she also holds the unofficial record for the best performance that qualified a qualifier. The athlete with 4.91 m, which is her record, has the third performance of all time in Europe.
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