Maria Rafailidou added European U20 gold to the European U18 title she garnered last year, as she won Greece’s first medal of any colour at the Tampere 2025 European Athletics U20 Championships in the women’s shot put on Sunday (10).
Tampere 2025 is being live streamed on the European Athletics website courtesy of Eurovision Sport.
Italy’s Anita Nelesso took the lead in the first round with a fine opener of 15.62m, with Rafailidou landing at 15.58m. But in the third round, the Greek athlete uncorked an effort of 16.16m and it was enough to seal the title.
Rafailidou also landed the second biggest throw of the competition with 15.85 in the fourth round to underline her superiority. In the final round, Ukraine’s Anhelina Shepel equalled Nalesso’s effort with a personal best 15.62m. By virtue of her second round throw of 15.30m, she took silver whilst Nalesso settled for bronze.
"This was so important to me - I wanted to keep the gold medal since last year in Banska Bystrica," said Rafailidou. "The transition from U18 was tough. The hardest part was that I had to change my technique from glide to rotational.
"I can finally enjoy the place - it is amazing here. Last days I was stressed, so I could not really see the place and enjoy it, so maybe now, I will take the chance and explore a bit.
Mahiques wins javelin gold for Spain
Spain’s Rafael Mahiques won the men’s javelin with a fourth round throw of 76.30m. He took the lead in the opening round with a solid effort of 73.77m, but it was never likely to be a gold medal winning throw.
His winning throw was timely as immediately afterwards, Poland’s Roch Krukowski produced a threatening fourth round effort of 74.65m. In the fifth round, Germany’s Oskar Jänicke launched his spear to a personal best of 76.17m to move into the silver medal position.
Mahiques passed his final throw, but Krukowski threw a personal best 76.01m to consolidate bronze.