Konrad Bukowiecki snatched the gold in the final round of the men’s shot put in his debut at the 2026 European Throwing Cup in Nicosia on Sunday (15) with 20.43m.
The Pole had not yet competed at these championships due to it clashing with other competitions but this year he wanted to try something different.
His win was by no means an easy feat with silver medallist Nick Ponzio and bronze medallist Eric Favors putting up a tough battle.
“It wasn’t my best performance, 20.43m is not a result I’m particularly proud of, but the most important thing today was that it was enough to win,” Bukowiecki said.
“Right now I just want to put everything together and most importantly stay healthy because I have struggled with injuries for years. I know I am capable of throwing further, I’m motivated, and I still want to keep pushing and improving."
In the first round, Favours set the standard of 19.68m before the Pole bettered it by just one centimetre as the whole field of athletes also fought through the tough conditions.
But soon in the third round, Bukowiecki extended his lead, edging closer to the 20 metre-mark with 19.77m.
However, Italy’s Ponzio had found his rhythm and almost matched Bukowiecki with 19.76m in the fourth round before taking the lead in the fifth round with 19.81m.
It may have taken him a few rounds, but the Italian was not going to let the gold go easily, as he extended his lead in the final round yet again with 19.97m.
But Bukowiecki had one more in the tank, and with the final throw of the competition he took back the gold he so desperately wanted.
Favors' first round throw got him the bronze ahead of Georgia’s Giorgi Mujaridze with 19.58m for fourth.
Bukowiecki used this competition to also build-up to the World Athletics Indoor Championships, held in Kujawy-Pomorze from 20-22 March were he enters with the 12th best season's best.