European Throwing Cup

European Throwing Cup

The event which took place for the first time in 2001 under its initial alias of the European Throwing Winter Challenge traditionally marks the beginning of the outdoor season for European throwers. 

At the most recent edition of the European Throwing Cup in Leiria, Portugal on 11-12 March, three world leading marks were set across the two days of competition. World champion Kristjan Ceh from Slovenia won back-to-back European Throwing Cup titles in the discus with 68.20m while Germany's Shanice Craft followed suit with 64.88m in the women's discus. 

Italy's Sara Fantini also reached out to a world leading mark of 73.26m in the women's hammer.

Ukraine topped the medal table with four gold medals which included an emotional victory for Roman Kokoshko. Now based in Portugal, Kokoshko won the shot put with 21.52m to defeat a field which included last year's winner and recently crowned European indoor champion Zane Weir from Italy.

From the 40 participating nations, an impressive 24 countries left Leiria with medalware for posterity. And the breadth and spread of talent across Europe was demonstrated by athletes from Kosovo, Iceland and Luxembourg all winning medals across the weekend. 

Serena Vincent also became the first British woman to win a title at the European Throwing Cup with gold in the U23 shot put while Nicola Tuthill became the first Irish athlete - male or female - to win a medal in the competition with silver in the U23 hammer.

The 2024 edition of the European Throwing Cup will also be held in Leiria on 9-10 March.