France’s Axel Mougel-Depoutot was upgraded to gold in the 800m at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Rieti after initial winner Ole Steinbach from Germany was disqualified for jostling in a physical, unpredictable and dramatic final on Saturday (18) evening.
Steinbach sat in the slipstream of the pre-race favourite and European U18 leader Charlie Chambers from Great Britain who reached the 400 mark in a fast 53.18 and with the field strung out in single file behind him.
But racing for the third time in as many days, Chambers - who has ownership of a 1:47.77 PB - began to slow on the back straight with the field beginning to bunch behind him.
Making contact with Great Britain’s other finalist Magnus Riddell which would eventually draw the ire of the officials, Steinbach surged through the pack with 250 metres remaining and held the inside line as six athletes were still in contention off the final bend.
Sporting dyed-pink hair for the final which was the result of a wager with a training partner, the tall German forged away and crossed the finish-line as the initial winner in 1:49.44 although the 16-year-old paid dearly for giving Riddell a sharp elbow and was soon qualified.
Mougel-Depoutot, who trailed Chambers at the bell before losing his position on the second lap, emerged from the pack to win silver in 1:49.76 before he was subsequently upgraded to gold for France’s second gold medal in the evening following Alice Penciu-Jurin’s considerably more straightforward victory in the women’s 1500m.
“I have been doing this event since I was 14 and I chose it because I have a good kick. But I am not sure if I will stick to this event in the future. I like it now and we will see,” said Mougel-Depoutot
The silver and bronze medals went to Spain’s Sergio Redondo in 1:49.93 and Riddell in 1:50.12 with pre-race favourite Chambers fading to fourth in 1:50.34.
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