As we head into the pinnacle of the indoor season, today also (14) marks one month until some of Europe’s best throwers will finally get to dust off the competition cobwebs as they head to the European Throwing Cup in Nicosia, Cyprus on 14-15 March.
The ever-popular annual event, which will be streamed live on the European Athletics YouTube channel in its entirety, often acts a season opener for many of the long throws athletes. They will be welcomed yet again to Cyprus by the warm mid-March sun after the competition returns to the country's capital for the second of three editions having been held in Leiria, Portugal between 2022-2024.
Teams will compete individually across the U20, U23 and senior categories in all four throws disciplines, but their performances will also score their country points which are added throughout the weekend to add extra competition.
Last year saw a star-studded line-up compete in Nicosia, including Kristjan Ceh, Silja Kosonen, Bence Halasz, Mykhaylo Kokhan, Merlin Hummel and Adriana Vilagos, all of whom are expected to challenge for medals at the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships from 10-16 August.
Big names already confirmed for Nicosia
While entries are yet to be confirmed, Ceh has said he plans to return to the European Throwing Cup this year before heading to Ramona, Oklahoma, where he hopes to challenge the world record.
Ceh, the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships discus winner, placed second at the event last year with 65.69m while Germany’s Henrik Janssen took the win with 65.77m.
Hummel has also confirmed his intention to open his season in Nicosia after a successful year in 2025 that saw him win silver at the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships and throw over 80m four times.
The German placed fifth with 76.90m in the elite field last year while Hungary’s Bence Halasz, who won bronze in Tokyo and silver in Rome, took the win with 78.75m.
There was also a standout performance from Finland's Silja Kosonen who launched the hammer out to a championship record, national record and an early season world leading mark of 77.07m. Kosonen is also planning on opening her international campaign in Nicosia next month.
History for Cyprus and Ireland
History was also made last year as world and European U20 champion Iosif Kesidis became the first ever Cypriot to win a gold medal in the history of the European Throwing Cup. He took the win in the U23 hammer, which was also the first event of the weekend, and threw two PBs to end the day with 72.96m.
Similarly, Nicola Tuthill also became the first Irish athlete to win a title in European Throwing Cup history by winning the women's U23 hammer with 69.74m.
Other highlights from last year included Serbia's Adriana Vilagos, the 2023 European Athletics Rising Star and two-time European medallist, setting a national record and early season world leading throw of 66.88m in the javelin.
Sweden's Vanessa Kamga also set an early world leading mark of 63.25m in the women's discus ahead of Portugal’s 2024 European bronze medallist Liliana Ca who threw 62.66m.