The next generation of Europe's stars will be competing at the European Athletics U18 Championships from 18-21 July.
We pick out 10 of the athletes who look set to make an impact in Banska Bystrica over the next four days.
Daniele Inzoli (Italy)
Italy has another precocious long jumper coming through the ranks. Two years after Mattia Furlani won gold in Jerusalem with a European U18 best of 8.04m, the title looks poised to remain in Italian hands. Still only 15, Inzoli has already recorded a lifetime best of 7.90m this year, a world age-15 best.
And like Furlani, Inzoli is an all-round talent. He is also the Italian U18 100m champion this year and will also compete in the sprint medley relay at the end of the championships.
Alexandra Stefania Uta (Romania)
Uta is the only athlete at the championships to have already won a major European medal and one of a select handful who also competed at last month’s European Athletics Championships in Rome.
The Romanian has the distinction of being the youngest medallist at last year’s European Athletics U20 Championships, coming away with bronze in the 400m hurdles at the age of 15.
Still only 16, Uta can already boast lifetime bests of 52.42 in the 400m and 56.31 for the 400m hurdles.
Vita Barbic (Croatia)
Barbic almost won a medal at last year’s European U20 Championships, finishing fourth in the javelin at the age of 15.
And the precocious Croatian will have two medal opportunities as she will be attempting an unusual - if not unique - javelin-discus double.
Barbic is the outstanding favourite in the javelin with a season’s best of 57.81m with the 500g javelin and she also has a credible medal chance in the discus by virtue of being ranked fifth with 48.34m.
Laura Frlickova (Slovakia)
Host nation Slovakia has never won a gold medal in the short history of the European Athletics U20 championships but this could change courtesy of home favourite Laura Frlickova who leads the world U18 list in the 100m hurdles with 13.14.
Filip Toul (Czechia)
Watch out for the up-and-coming Czech middle distance star Filip Toul who has entered both the 1500m and 3000m in Banska Bystrica.
Only 16, the 1500m seems to be Toul’s best distance for now. He has already clocked 3:40.98 which makes him the third fastest European U18 in history behind Niels Laros (3:39.46) and Jakob Ingebrigtsen (3:39.92.)
Incidentally, Laros swept the 1500m and 3000m titles at the last European Athletics U18 Championships in Jerusalem 2022.
Shaikira King (Great Britain)
Phoebe Gill might be missing from these championships but another precocious British middle distance talent looks set to play a leading role in the 800m.
Shaikira King, who turned 16 in the days leading up to the championships, has already clocked 2:01.71 for the two lap distance.
Anastazja Kus (Poland)
It is shaping up to be an important month for 17-year-old Anastazja Kus who will go in search of the 400m title in Banska Bystrica before heading to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as part of Poland’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m teams.
Kus leads the European U18 list with 52.26 which puts not just the gold medal but also the championship record of 52.66 firmly within her grasp as well.
Roch Krukowski (Poland)
Another Polish medal hope in Banska Bystrica is 16-year-old Roch Krukowski who leads the world U18 list in the 700g javelin with 80.60m.
Incidentally, Roch is the younger brother of Marcin who has qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and holds the Polish senior record with 89.55m.
Thomas Williams (Ireland)
Ireland might not be renowned for its prowess in the heavy throws but Thomas Williams could land a rare gold medal for the Irish in the men’s hammer. He leads the world U18 list with the 5kg implement with 77.31m.
No male athlete has won a gold medal for Ireland at the European Athletics U18 Championships but this could change over the course of the next four days in Banska Bystrica.
Miia Ott (Estonia)
A key part of Estonia’s 4x100m team, Miia Ott will be focused primarily on individual success in the 100m in Banska Bystrica.
Only 17, Ott can already boast a wealth of championship experience. She made the 100m final at the European U20 Championships and also competed for Estonia in the 4x100m at both the 2023 European Athletics Team Championships and 2024 European Athletics Championships.
Ott has entered both the 100m and 200m although her best medal chance comes in the shorter of the two events. She has a lifetime best of 11.53 which is the Estonian U18 and U20 record.