Slovakia’s Gabriela Gajanova was thrilled to win a surprise silver in the 800m at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships.
And she drew comparisons with an earlier success at the European Athletics U18 Championships which will take place next month in her native country in Banská Bystrica on 18-21 July.
Gajanova, who ran a brilliantly judged race in the Stadio Olimpico where she began to close on gold medallist and defending champion Keely Hodgkinson just before the line, won bronze at the first ever European Athletics U18 Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia in 2016.
Surprise, excitement and joy
"Even with the passage of time, I remember that these were similar feelings to what I was experiencing now in Rome,” she told the Slovak Athletics Federation in the aftermath of her career-best result in the Italian capital.
“I was mixed with surprise, excitement and joy. To this day, that result has an important place in my sports hierarchy, it was a springboard," emphasised Gajonova, who went on to win bronze at the 2017 European Athletics U20 Championships in Grosseto, again in Italy.
At the time of winning European U18 bronze, Gajanova was also not expected to win a medal as the seventh-ranked competitor of the finalists. But she clearly has a mind for the big occasion, as she first proved eight years ago.
"I don't even know what happened there, suddenly I finished third. I had no hope at all that I would work my way forward. The body was tired, but the head wanted. Somehow it worked out," she reported at the time.
"Before the race, I would not have seriously believed in a medal. I was around 14-15 on time and after the closing entries, I was tenth. Such a result would never have occurred to me.”
She went on to win European U20 bronze and was unlucky not to complete the set when she was initially awarded third place at the 2019 European Athletics U23 Championships in Gavle, Sweden.
Ireland’s Nadia Power was initially disqualified for causing a collision. But she was reinstated on appeal and Gajanova had to settle for fourth on this occasion.
"A big deal for Slovak athletics"
Looking towards the upcoming championships in Banská Bystrica on 18-21 July, Gajanova is optimistic that racing at home could help Slovakian athletes.
"Perhaps they will use it to their advantage.” she said. “It is far from the fact that they do not have to travel anywhere, acclimatise, get used to a new environment. I believe that as many close people as possible will come to support them: it can be a great driving force
"At the same time, I hope that as many fans as possible will buy tickets, come to cheer on our athletes and meet future stars. It is a big deal for Slovak athletics that it is hosting such an important event.”
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics