One of my fave columns each major event is when Stuart notates some of the stranger things that can happen at a major champs. The Glasgow 2019 Champs were no exception. What follows are the careful observations of one Stuart Weir. I found several quite funny and believe the extra week of waiting is well, worth it. How was that for an example of rationalizing?
400m champ Karston Warholm with Jonathan Edwards/Eurovision, photo by Getty Images/European Athletics
The Good, the bad and the odd
Men’s pole-vault: The first two in the event were from Poland, Pawel Wojciechowski and Piotr Lisek. It is always good to hear of Poles with poles prospering.
Family business: Mr and Mrs Kilty came to Glasgow together. Richard was in the 60m for GB. Mrs Kilty, competing as DovilÄ— DzindzaletaitÄ— represented Lithuania in the triple jump.
No cycling shoes allowed: The media center is located in the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome (Sir Chris won 6 Olympic gold medals as a cyclist). That explains the sign asking journalists (and others) not to wear cycling shoes on the stairs. For £15 ($25) you can have an hour on the track.
Women’s 800m: Bianca Razor was running for Romania but sadly Lynsey Sharp did not make the GB team. No razor-sharp competition there then.
Not living up her name: Rebekka Haase (of Germany) did not run fast enough to make the 60m final. The German word Hase means hare.
Good to know: Pawel Wojciechowski told the media after his competition: “It´s not the World Championship but Europeans”. I am so glad that we have clarified that.
Difficult athlete to interview: Karsten Warholm “I like to let my legs speak for me”
I really didn’t need to know that: Milan Trajkovic, flashquote: “I had a cold last season”
Successful defence: 18 athletes came back to defend their 2017 title. Only the following four were successful four: Laura Muir 1500 and 3000, Marcin Lewandowski 1500, Ivana Spanovic long jump.
In 2017 this column tipped 40 year old Fabrizio Donato as one for the future?: Our confidence was vindicated as the now 42 year old Italian was again competing in the Triple Jump.
Club Name: There is an athletics Club in Glasgow called “Giffnock North”, which has existed since 1943. Giffnock is a suburb of Glasgow with a population of 16,000. It is the only athletics club in Giffnock so why is it called “Giffnock North” and are citizens of South Giffnock also welcome?
Media: 265 written press and photographers were accredited for the event. 38 entered the media 60m race
