The incredible Vilma Murtto from Finland deprived Katerina Stefanidi of her third consecutive gold medal at the European Championships. The Greek champion, despite an excellent performance in the pole vault final in Munich and achieving her best result this year with 4.75m, saw 24-year-old Murtto give the performance of her life with 4.85m (13 points above her previous personal and national record and 25 centimeters above her best performance this year!) to become European champion.
Stefanidi surpassed her theoretical main rival, Slovenian Tina Soutei (also third with 4.75 m), climbed onto the podium for the fourth consecutive competition and secured her 11th medal in major competitions (at women's level), but she will certainly leave the Bavarian capital with a bittersweet taste in her mouth.
The Rio Olympic gold medalist was very consistent from the start of the final, clearing 4.40m, 4.55m, 4.65m, 4.70m, and 4.75m on her first attempt and securing the medal. When Soutey missed an attempt at 4.70m, the gold seemed almost certain. However, no one counted on the 24-year-old Finn, who, after failing at 4.70m, skipped the next two attempts and cleared 4.75m and 4.80m on her first try! Stefanidi, who had already failed at 4.80m, tried twice at 4.85m, but her first jump was not good and she did not even get off the ground on her second attempt, settling for the silver medal.
Mourto went on to clear 4.85m on her second attempt, accompanying her unexpected triumph with an equalization of the competition record set by Stefanidi in Berlin in 2018.
The results of the women's pole vault final:
1. Vilma Murtto (Finland) 4.85 meters (Competition record) 2. Katerina Stefanidi (Greece) 4.75 3. Tina Soutei (Slovenia) 4.75 4. Caroline Bode Holm (Denmark) 4.55 . Angelika Moser (Switzerland) 4.55 6. Marie-Gil Bonnet (France) 4.55 7. Roberta Bruni (Italy) 4.55 . Molly Condey (Great Britain) 4.55 9. Sophie Cook (Great Britain) 4.40 10. Margot Sevrier (France) 4.40 11. Elina Lampela (Finland) 4.40 12. Lene Onsrud Regius (Norway) 4.25
YANNIS DIMITROGLOU
