Triplist Patrícia Mamona, who defended the title won two years ago, came third in the final of the European Indoor Championships competition, in Istanbul, Turkey. The triple jump of 14.16 meters earned him the bronze medal and Portugal third place on the podium, after the gold medals of Auriol Dongmo (shot put) and Pedro Pichardo (triple jump).
The 34-year-old Olympic runner-up set her best mark immediately after the opening and failed to exceed 14 meters again. won him the European scepter two years ago. Competing at home, Turkey’s Tugba Danismaz was crowned European champion, with 14.31 metres, a new national record, ahead of Italy’s Daiya Derkach (14.20).
“I must be happy, because until today [ontem], I didn’t know if I would participate. Unfortunately I got injured yesterday [na sexta-feira] in qualifying. I didn’t say not to be alarmed. Now I’m in a lot of pain, but it was in the adductor and now I feel the knee, which is normal, but I fought to the end,” shared the Olympic runner-up, who was “genuinely happy” to see the athlete be that Turkey won, “because Turkey has lived through such sad days,” he said in reference to the earthquakes that hit the country’s southwest and northwestern Syria.
Even injured, Mamona, 34 years old, jumped 14.16 meters on the first attempt, seven centimeters more than the day before, in qualifying, but she was unable to overcome 14 meters again, securing her third medal at the European Indoor Tracks, after Gold in Torun 2021 and Silver in Belgrade 2017.
“It was the medal that was missing, it was a first, it was a second and I have to be happy with the bronze. I hope it’s nothing serious, because summer and the World Cups are coming,” the Sporting athlete referred , who nevertheless completed the six jumps of the final, taking 13.98, two zeros, 13.90 and 13.41 to finish.
In Istanbul 2023, Portugal equals the number of medals achieved in previous championships, in Poland, Torun 2021, with three golds, and Valencia 1998, with one gold and two silver.
Already at the Outdoor Worlds in Oregon 2022, in the United States, and then at the Europeans, in Munich, Germany, Mamona was conditioned by injury, without ever giving up. “I was very indecisive, but in the warm-up I decided I could compete and fight for the medals and for the first place. On the second jump I felt it again and it was more about managing the competition. I think I must be happy, I wanted to fight for more, but I couldn’t be here. I have to thank the medical team who have once again done a fantastic job,” he said.
Martha Pen in sixth place
Marta Pen came sixth in the 1500 meters final, with a time of 4:07.95 minutes, in a race won by Britain’s Laura Muir (4:03.40). The 29-year-old athlete from Benfica achieved her best result of the year, in what was her second appearance in indoor European championships, after bettering 13th place in Torun 2021. “My big goal was to get out of here with a medal and with the national record. Those were two things I really enjoyed celebrating with you here,” Pen shared with journalists in the mixed zone of Istanbul’s Ataköy Arena .
The best Portuguese result in the 1500 meters indoor European Championships for women was the victory achieved in Stockholm in 1996 by Carla Sacramento, who has held the national record since February 25, 2001 (04.04.11). the glass is half full and one of the things I’ve invested a lot in over the years is learning to drink what’s in the glass and today is sixth. So I’m going to celebrate that. It’s hard but I promise today I won’t cry because the medal is a dream or a goal,” he said.
Veiga and Larrinaga in action
In the long jump, Evelise Veiga qualified for the final with a score of 6.53 metres, achieved in the third qualifying attempt, giving her seventh place and the opportunity to challenge for medals today.
“I am very emotional because I believed I could be in the final, but I had to be at my best level because my opponents are very strong. It was difficult, but I succeeded. Now dreaming is still free,” he said the Sporting athlete, who is making his European debut at the age of 27. Evelise Veiga will participate in the final from 4.50 pm.
Another lucky day was Abdel Larrinaga, who reached the semi-finals of the 60m hurdles after being caught in the qualifiers. The Sporting athlete was fifth in the first heat, with 7.77 seconds, a figure that put him in third place. At 7:43 a.m. (10:43 a.m. in Istanbul), Abdel-Kader Larrinaga lines up in lane two of the second semi-final of the 60-meter hurdles, where only one of the top four places qualifies for the final, which takes place at 6:05 p.m. .
athletics
Source: DN
