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| Nadine Kleinert of Germany won the shot put gold with a throw of 19.18m on Friday. |
At the age of 36 and with countless campaigns behind her, Germany’s Nadine Kleinert finally claimed the ultimate prize of gold for the first time in her career with a throw of 19.18.
Second was Russia’s Irina Tarasova (18.91) while bronze went to Italy’s Chiara Rosa (18.47).
No wonder Kleinert held her head in her hands in disbelief at the end of what turned out to be a triumphal march towards the title where she led from round one.
“I am so happy,” said Kleinert. “I didn't believe that I could win. Now the past European Championships are forgotten.” Kleinert has competed in four previous European championships, giving her a modest record of three sixth places and one seventh in Barcelona two years ago.
Silver medallist Tarasova was not so contented: “I am disappointed that I didn't get the gold today,” said the Russian.
“I think I could have beaten Kleinert, I have had problems with some of the local food.”
Kleinert, who competes for the Magdeburg club, has a streak of major silvers to her name, but never gold.
Her earliest dates back to the Seville world championships when she collected her first silver, followed by two more in 2001 and – with a gap of eight years – 2009.
In between, there was Olympic silver in 2004 to add to 2000 European indoor silver and 2005 world indoor silver. Add to that a bronze in the Osaka 2007 world championships.
In her 14 final competitions this season, she has only been out of the top two on three occasions. Occasionally, such consistency brings its own reward.
For her part, the only medals Rosa has won before were at Mediterranean Games level and age-group competitions as well as world university games silver. But nothing to compare with this.
Understandably, she was delighted with bronze: “My dream came true today, absolutely the best day!” she said.
The competition
No surprises in round one as Kleinert went out to 18.58 to take an early lead.
In second was Tarasova just five centimetres down while third-string German Josephine Terlecki was in third with 18.33.
The only surprise was a foul by Christina Schwanitz, the second-string German.
With the circle still in the sun at the northern end of the stadium, Kleinert prepared herself for her second effort – 19.15, an improvement of 57 centimetres.
Tarasova improved marginally to 18.79, but at the moment Kleinert was going away from her and there was little she could do about it.
Terlecki could not improve, though she put in a mighty effort, tied up and the implement fell short of her first effort: 18.16.
Round three and Kleinert repeated exactly her second round effort of 19.15.
Schwanitz was the big gainer in this round as she got in a legal throw of 18.25 to go into fourth, eight centimetres behind Terlecki.
Whether it was the shot on the stadium screen of her coach that spurred her on is impossible to say, but Tarasova improved again to 18.91, but it was still not enough to trouble the lead.
For Schwanitz there was to be no improvement as she took the final throw of the round: 18.10.
With the order of the final eight throwers reversed from the fourth round onwards, Rosa threw herself into fourth with 18.26, dislodging Schwanitz by one centimetre.
Schwanitz tried to respond to the threat but came up with her worst throw of the last three rounds: 17.77.
Neither Terlecki nor Tarasova – who fouled – could make an impression on Kleinert who extended her lead slightly by three centimetres.
Round five and Rosa improved even further, throwing herself into the medals with 18.47 to dislodge Terlecki by 14 centimetres with the German unable to respond and fouling deliberately.
Closing out round five, Kleinert once again thumped the 19m line but it was a foul.
With her final throw, Rosa failed to go further. She would have to rely on the others failing to catch her if she were to take a medal.
With Schwanitz failing to reach 18m, what could Terlecki do?
As Terlecki failed, Rosa threw her arms in the air and fell onto the track on the bend of the 20om to celebrate.
So it was Kleinert to take the throw of honour. Dropping the shot on the grass she stepped forward and raised her arms to lead the rhythmic clapping.
In the event, the implement fell short, but it was no matter. Kleinert was European champion for the first time and she could finally celebrate gold.