Some of Europe's top throwers will take to the infield at the 2026 European Throwing Cup in Nicosia as the host nation Cyprus looks to take double gold in the U23 hammer throw events.
Iosif Kesidis and Valentina Savva, both 20, are Cyprus’ biggest hopes for a gold medal this weekend as both young athletes carry their wealth of junior international experience into the competition.
“My goal is simple: I want to enjoy the competition as it's just the first competition of the season for me, give it my all and hopefully win the gold medal,” said Savva.
Savva made her senior World Athletics Championships debut last year in Tokyo. She is also the first Cypriot woman to throw over 70 metres and holds a wealth of junior medals including European U20 and U18 golds, world U20 silver and European U23 bronze.
While Kesidis, who has won gold at European U18 and U23 championships and world U20 championships, reiterated her messaging and also wished all his fellow competitor’s good luck as he endeavours to win back-to-back titles in the U23 hammer.
Head-to-head in the javelin
Adriana Vilagos and Elina Tzengko have both returned to Nicosia for one of the best battles of the weekend.
Looking to defend her title from last year, Vilagos, will yet again take to the runway to open her season after a successful 2025 that saw her win the Bergen 2025 European Athletics U23 Championships and make the final in Tokyo for the World Athletics Championships.
"I have very nice memories from here, I had a great competition last year and I just hope that we will be able to enjoy tomorrow as much as we can," Vilagos said.
"I'm excited to open my season. My main goal is just to feel the competition and to feel that atmosphere, what I really like about competitions and to see where I am and I hope I could throw a good result on which we can build on after in the season.
"Then for the season, the main goal is the European Championship in England [Birmingham.]"
While Tzengko, of Greece, will be looking to reclaim the title she won in 2023 after also making the final in Tokyo as the pair reignite their fierce yet friendly rivalry ahead of meeting at Birmingham 2026.
“Cyprus here, it feels like home for me. I love to visit this place. We come here every year for preparation ahead of the season. I know this place, I know this stadium, so I'm really happy and excited that I'm going to compete here again.
“But the main goal this year, as Adriana said, is the European Championships in summer,” she said.
Kokhan's motivations to medal
Mykhaylo Kokhan is yet another global star to return to Cyprus as the Ukrainian Olympic bronze medallist will open his season after a bittersweet experience in Tokyo where he placed fourth.
“My fourth and fifth places have motivated me to become better, to place third, second, and first, not fourth or fifth anymore,” he said.
“I don't like this number, it makes me upset sometimes after competitions and it also motivates me at the same time.
“It’s great to change the picture after winter training where you do around three months of the same work, it’s like the movie Groundhog Day.”
Kokhan is a regular at the European Throwing Cup, winning the U23 competition three times and the senior once, in 2024.
Importance of the team for Robert-Michon
Now 45, Melina Robert-Michon will be competing in her 22nd European Throwing Cup having won bronze at the inaugural event in 2001, only missing 2010 and 2018 to have children, and 2021.
She has been a consistent face in global discus for over two decades, winning silver and bronze and the World Athletics Championships, silver at the Olympics, and silver at the European Athletics Championships.
But for Robert-Michon, despite all her success, competing as part of a team still remains so important to her.
“I like this competition because we can enjoy with all the throwers and see where we are after the preparation. And we don't have many opportunities to compete like a team, so it's very important for me too.
“To be able to compete for so long as a thrower isn’t easier than other events as I need to think about what I do a lot more, but as long as I believe I can beat my PB I will keep going,” she said.
Bukowiecki building to Torun
Konrad Bukowiecki will be making his European Throwing Cup debut and leads the men’s shot put field before heading back home to Poland for the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
The Pole broke through with great success as a junior athlete, but has narrowly missed out on global podiums as a senior since, but hopes that by changing his usual plans and competing in Nicosia, he will finally find himself on a major podium again.
“I'm pretty excited about making my debut here. My goals are: I want to throw far. That's it. If I'm going to throw far, then I'm going to be happy. I'm going to be winning.
“Hopefully we'll drop some ‘bombs’ with the guys from Europe and then of course we have the World Indoor Championships in Torun in my country, Poland which is very important to me.”