Former world U20 champion Mazlum Demir added another title to his collection in winning the men’s 10,000m race walk at the Bergen 2025 European Athletics U23 Championships on Sunday (20).
Bergen 2025 is being live streamed on the European Athletics website courtesy of Eurovision Sport.
Demir keeps cool in searing heat
The Turk produced a relentless display, staying with - and then pushing - the pace as his rivals wilted in the Scandinavian sun.
Germany’s 2023 European U20 champion Frederick Weigel set a quick tempo from the off, leading the pack through the first 5k in 20:10.30.
But he paid for taking the burden at the front and by 7k, a lead quartet of Demir, Ukraine’s Mukola Rushchak and Italian duo Emiliano Brigante and Nicola Lomuscio had broken clear. But at that point, Demir made his move and Rushchak and Lomuscio were cut adrift.
Brigante clung to Demir, but in the final kilometre the Turk cranked it up another notch, taking a 10 metre lead into the final lap. Brigante strained to bridge the gap, but Demir was not to be denied and strode home to win in a personal best 39:45.84.
Brigante celebrated silver, 3.80 seconds behind. Bronze went to Weigel who rallied to finish in a personal best 40:00.50, after Spaniard Oscar Martinez suffered a late time penalty after initially placing third. Lomuscio came home fourth, but was rewarded with a lifetime best of 40.19.25. Rushchak was fifth with 40:29.39.
Coach-less gold medallist thanks supporters
Afterwards, Demir revealed his success was self-coached this year. “This year, without my coach, I think I did my best,” he said. “But despite the fact that I do not have a coach, I have people supporting me and also my team mates, so I want to thank them all.
"My former coach, Olimpiada Ivanova did not make a new contract with the team, so she had to go back, and I decided to work on my own.
“It was a challenging process for me. But still, I manage to do great things this year. My club and the president of athletics supported me and I would love to thank them.”
On how the event unfolded, he said: “This race started faster than I expected. And the weather is so hot, so that were the first two surprises for me. But I did the same trick that I did in Colombia 2022 and came in with the last lap. And now, I am the champion.”