Lucy Bull took Great Britain’s seventh gold medal at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Rieti with a big PB of 56.60m in the fifth round on Sunday (19) after coming into the championships ranked sixth.
She has also added a total of 2.57m to her PB since arriving in Rieti, having thrown a PB of 54.98m in qualifying before bettering it again in the final.
Croatia’s Ema Trogrlić also threw a three metre PB of 56.40m to take silver ahead of Türkiye’s Simanur Bilgili who threw 55.72m for bronze.
“I am still in shock,” Bull said. “A massive well done to everybody else in the competition and big thank you to my family and coaches for getting me where I am today.
“I play cricket as well but I have stopped that this year, just to focus on the javelin, although I think they do help each other. I started with the javelin when I was like 11, but actually, I used to be a runner.
“I only started focusing on javelin a couple of years after that. I used to throw the foam javelins quite far, and people were like, 'oh, you should try normal javelins.' So I just went to the athletic club and I tried all the events.
“I could throw those quite far so I just carried on with that. I do not like to try copy someone else’s technique, but my javelin idol is Goldie Sayers [2008 Olympic bronze medallist]. I like watching her throw and she is a really good friend.”
The Briton herself couldn’t believe the distance when it flashed up on the scoreboard, instantly gasping and turning to her team coach in shock.
But she still had one more round to survive before being crowned the champion, and once Trogrlic had taken her final throw, confirming Bull as the champion, the disbelief was plastered over her face.
She had one throw remaining though, so she composed herself before throwing 54.65m which was further than her PB before the championships.
With the title confirmed and no more throws left, Bull turned and ran to Trogrlić with the gold and silver medallist embracing each other in a hug, sealing their special moment in one another’s arms.
“I improved my PB by nearly four meters - I was shocked,” Trogrlić said. “I am feeling very positive but I did not think I would do it today.
“Yet I know that I can. Achieving 56.40m brought so many emotions, so much excitement. My first throws were not so good, but I used it as a leverage. I think I wanted too much and then power goes over technique.
“On the fourth attempt I was able to calm down and it was brilliant throw. I train in Zagreb and started athletics at four, did many different events.
“I am very grateful that at my present club I have great facilities and possibilities for javelin throw. Javelin throw is fun, I love to take on new challenges and to have a goal like improving on special parts in the technique.
“I am here with my family, they are on the tribune and it really helps when you know that somebody supports you and cares about you.”