Germany had their second medal sweep of the Bergen 2025 European Athletics U23 Championships on Friday (18), this time in the men’s discus.
Bergen 2025 is being live streamed on the European Athletics website courtesy of Eurovision Sport.
Steven Richter, Mika Sosna and Marius Karges finished 1-2-3, following the example set in the women’s shot put on Thursday courtesy of Nina Chioma Ndubuisi, Helena Kopp, Jolina Lange.
Although a second sweep was always likely, the finishing order was a slight upset.
Richter scales heights to win gold
Sosna, a 70 metres thrower at his best, led the rankings coming into the event, was Germany’s pick at the recent Madrid 2025 European Athletics Team Championships were he placed second and was selected for last year’s Paris Olympics.
But Richter is another huge talent, twice winning U23 gold at the European Throwing Cup, and he duly delivered in the championship arena.
With Sosna landing relatively modest throws of 62.48m and 63.42m in the opening rounds, Richter seized the lead with a third round 64.67m. Sosna had two successive failures and when his final effort fell well short at 60.34m, gold was secured for Richter.
Karges was safely in bronze medal position from the second round onwards, but he saved his best for last, with a 62.20m heave in the final round. European U18 and European U20 champion Mykhailo Brudin of Ukraine was fourth with a season’s best of 59.85m.
"This means a lot to me because I have never won a medal at an international competition," said Richter. "Coming to the final, we knew that we are the top three contenders in the competition and we hoped to sweep the podium. But the fact, that I am the best one, that makes it even more special to me.
"I would not say we felt any pressure after the women´s shot put final. I think it was an extra motivation to do the same what the girls managed yesterday. This is a great start of my career because an under 23 is like a bridge to the men´s competition. So maybe we can get this momentum and win some medals in the men´s competition too."