Andrei Mikhnevich of Belarus.

Andrei Mikhnevich of Belarus won a nail-biting shot put competition Saturday by just 0.01 to climb one place higher on the podium than four years ago and become the oldest ever winner of this title.

A second round throw of 21.01m proved just enough for the 34-year-old Mikhnevich, who earned recompense for missing out on the gold by just 0.02 at the 2006 European Athletics Championships in Goteborg.

The Belarussian edged a thrilling contest by the smallest of margins from Poland’s Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski, who looked understandably distraught to miss out on the big prize.

A sixth round effort of 20.93m by Ralf Bartels earned the German a bronze medal as the defending champion mounted a strong defence of his title.

But this was Mikhnevich’s day as he became the first Belarus athlete to take this title and add European gold to the world crown he took in 2003 and Olympic bronze in 2008.

Mikhnevich, who surpassed Aleksandr Bagach of the Ukraine by three years as the oldest winner of this title, said: “This gold feels great. After some difficult seasons I’m back where I want to be.”

Majewski reacted predictably to losing out by such a small margin and added: “I’m very disappointed. Losing by only 0.01 hurts. I could have won easily, but it wasn’t my day.”

Bartels, who is a two-time world outdoor bronze medallist, said: “I gave away my first three throws but I later woke up and corrected my result. I am satisfied, even though it is another bronze medal like so often in my career.”

The opening round could best be described as steady rather than spectacular with just 0.33 separating the top five. Majewski led thanks to an opening effort of 20.66m with the Croatian champion Nedzad Mulabegovic surprising many to take second with 20.56m – a PB by 0.09. Mikhnevich was ranked third (20.49m) after the opening stanza with the German duo David Storl (20.24) and Ralf Bartels (20.23) rounding out the top five.

In round two Mikhnevich made his move, which was to ultimately prove decisive. The powerful Belarussian let out a roar after tossing the shot high into the air and it crashed down at 21.01m. Majewski responded to improve his distance 20.83m, but he had been relegated to second.

Round three saw no changes among the medal positions, although Bartels leapfrogged Storl - his younger German rival - into fourth with a 20.40m effort.

As the field was cut from 12 to the top eight the competition showed signs of warming up in round four. Maris Urbans the hirsute European No.2 from Latvia fired the shot out to 20.56m – the exact same mark as Mulabegovic – but the Latvian had to settle for fourth by virtue of having an inferior second best mark.

Majewski looked motivated to reclaim his lead and when the tape on the 21m mark rippled the crowd held its breath that the Pole could have achieved his wish. However, it was a recorded at an agonising 21.00m - just 0.01 shy of the gold medal position.

Mikhnevich appeared a little rattled by the Majewski’s throw and threw his arms up in frustration after he closed out the round with 20.77m.
Round five finally saw the unheralded Croat Mulabegovic finally dislodged from bronze as Urtans launched the shot out to 20.72m. Meanwhile, Bartels also started to fin his rhythm, moving up to fourth with 20.65m.

Mulabegovic had suddenly found himself demoted from bronze to fifth, but he refused to throw in the towel and registered 20.50m, his second best throw of the competition.      

All eyes were on a fired up Majewksi in round five but again he fell just short – this time with a 20.94m distance. Mikhnevich completed the fifth round with 20.58m.

The tension was palpable among these athletic giants and Mikhnenvich bounced nervously up and down before the beginning on the final round.

The 20-year-old Storl nudged one place up the leaderboard to fifth with 20.57m, but it was his compatriot Bartels who made a more significant move finding his range with 20.93m to replace Urtans in the bronze medal position.

Urtans could only respond with 20.64m and had to settle for fourth.

Again many believed Majewski had the power to reclaim the lead but his final throw proved a massive anti-climax. The shot struck the turf at 20.59m and the Pole shook his head in resignation. Mikhnevich had the gold medal safely in his pocket and ended his competition with a stress-free 20.94m.