European Athletics is pleased to announce that triple jump world record holder Teddy Tamgho of France and Italian high jumper Antonietta Di Martino have been voted as the European Athletes of the Month for February.
Tamgho arrived in Paris equipped with a world record 17.91, set at the French national championships in Aubière two weeks before the European indoors. A great deal was expected of triple jump legend Ivan Pedroso’s protégé and he pronounced himself ready for the mission.
The answer was almost unbelievable. Not only could he take the pressure, he made the whole operation seem mundane.
The Frenchman not only produced one world record of 17.92 in round two, but an exact copy in round four just in case someone wasn’t watching the first time.
Di Martino landed her maiden major championship title to become the first Italian since the great Sara Simeoni some 30 years ago to take the European indoor title.
The gold medallist put in a totally dominant performance, clearing every height with her first attempt up to and including 1.99m to secure gold before impressing even further by sailing over 2.01m with her second effort. She also became the oldest ever winner of this title at the age of 32 years, 278 days.
Earlier in the month of February, Di Martino set an Italian record of 2.04m to win in Banska Bystrica in Slovakia to propel herself to the top of the world rankings.
Portugal’s Francis Obikwelu, who scripted a dream comeback after a few years in the wilderness by setting a new national record 6.53 to win the 60m gold in Paris, finished second in the men’s poll. The European 100m record holder has been struggling with injuries in the last few years but made a splash at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona last August when he finished fourth. The third place went to Belarus’ Andrei Krauchanka who won the heptathlon gold medal in Paris with a personal best and national record tally of 6282 points.
Ukraine’s sprint sensation Olesya Povh equalled her own European season-leading performance of 7.13 in the semi-finals and finals to take her first major international title and was voted second in a very close contest for the women’s European Athlete of the Month. Czech Republic’s Denisa Rosolova who took the glory and the gold from her famed Russian counterparts in the women’s 400m in Paris was voted third in the women’s poll.
Since the European Athletics Indoor Championships were held in the first week of March, European Athletics decided to include the performances of Paris 2011 in the polls for the month of February.
European Athletics’ monthly poll received overwhelming support from thousands of athletics fans and media alike this month from all over Europe.
The European Athlete of the Month initiative was launched in January 2007 and is designed to recognise outstanding performers at all levels of the sport in Europe.
A male and female winner each month is named and featured on the European Athletics website.
Selections are based on votes by the public, media and a panel of European Athletics experts – each counting for 33.3 percent of the final vote. No athlete who has previously served a two-year doping ban can be nominated for or win the European Athlete of the Month award.
2011 previous winners:
| Month | Male | Country | Female | Country |
| January | Ivan Ukhov | RUS | Jessica Ennis | GBR |