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Bruus, Topic, Tzengko | Women's Rising Star finalists for 2022 announced

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  • Bruus, Topic, Tzengko | Women's Rising Star finalists for 2022 announced

We can reveal the three women's finalists for the 2022 Rising Star award, a category which was introduced in 2007 to recognise outstanding young European athletes.

The winner will be announced and presented with their trophy on-stage at the annual Golden Tracks award ceremony in Tallinn, Estonia on 22 October. The ceremony will be streamed live through the European Athletics website and YouTube channel.  

Last year's winner was Olympic 400m hurdles bronze medallist and European indoor 400m and 4x400m champion Femke Bol from the Netherlands.

Karmen Bruus (EST) | Profile

Year in summary:

From seventh at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Jerusalem to seventh a fortnight later at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, Karmen Bruus has been on a meteoric rise this summer. 

Bruus had cleared 1.91m during the indoor season but she struggled to find anything resembling this form in Jerusalem, needing three attempts at her opening height in qualifying before bowing out at a modest 1.79m in the final. But a transformed athlete appeared on the biggest stage in Oregon, clearing a lifetime best of 1.93m in qualifying before equalling the world U18 best of 1.96m in the final. 

World Athletics Championships Oregon22 - Day Five

From senior success in Oregon, Bruus landed U20 gold at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia where she defeated a field which included fellow nominee Angelina Topic from Serbia before rounding off her season with her debut appearance at the European Athletics Championships in Munich.

Did you know?

Only 17, Karmen Bruus is already the joint Estonian record-holder in the high jump. Her 1.96m clearance at the World Athletics Championships was not only an equal world U18 best but also equalled the Estonian record held by Anna Iljustsenko.

What they said:

On combining her studies with athletics: "After school, I have to study and then I have to go to training and then I have little time to eat and then I go to sleep. I wouldn’t change anything for this. Competing and athletics — it’s my home and I love it."

Karmen in action:

Angelina Topic (SRB) | Profile

Year in summary: 

Angelina Topic’s year started with an appearance on home soil at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade and climaxed with a spree of three major medals in the space of six weeks this summer.

Having equalled the world U18 best with 1.96m, Topic was one of the highest profile athletes competing at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Jerusalem not only due to her own accomplishments but also the fact Topic hails from Serbian athletics royalty. 

Under the supportive gaze of her father Dragutin, the 1990 European champion, and mother Biljana, the 2009 world bronze medallist in the triple jump, Topic shouldered the pressure and growing expectations by clearing 1.92m to win the title before attempting an outright world U18 best of 1.97m.  

Athletics European Championship U18 Jerusalem 2022 - Day 3

Topic went on to win world U20 bronze in Cali before making her breakthrough in the senior ranks with an unexpected bronze medal on the last night of the Munich 2022 European Athletics Championships, clearing 1.93m again in cool and wet conditions in the Olympic Stadium.  

In total, Topic cleared 1.90m or higher in 10 competitions indoors and outdoors this season.

Did you know?

At 17, Topic was the youngest medallist across all disciplines at the European Athletics Championships in Munich. 

What they said:

On her goals for the future: "I would like to make history in high jump and become one of the greatest ever. My dream is to set world records in each age category and to finalise it by winning a gold medal at the Olympics."

Angelina in action:

Elina Tzengko (GRE) | Profile

Year in summary:

It only took Elina Tzengko one season to graduate from European U20 champion to European senior champion in the javelin.

Less than a month after she was knocked out in qualifying at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, Tzengko showcased her immense talent at the European Athletics Championships in Munich by launching a lifetime best of 65.81m to defeat her long-time age group rival Adriana Vilagos from Serbia and world record-holder Barbora Spotakova to become the youngest ever javelin champion in European Athletics Championships history.  

Athletics - Day 10 - European Championships Munich 2022

Tzengko broke the 60 metre-line in eight competitions in 2022 and surpassed the 65 metre-barrier twice. As well as throwing 65.81m to win European gold, Tzengko threw 65.40m for victory in Ostrava. 

Did you know?

Tzengko balances her athletics career with her studies. She is studying sport science at the University of Thessaloniki. 

What they said:

On challenging the 70 metre-barrier: ​“I want to attack 70 metres for sure, but at the moment, 65 metres is perfect for me now. I am only 19 years old. I still have a lot of years to come.”

Elina in action:




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