by Stuart Weir
2021 European indoor championships, photo by European Athletics
Nai Thiam, pentathlon, photo by European Athletics
Tomáš Stanek wins shot put in upset, photo by European Athletics
This is the update on a complete day 1, March 5, 2021, at the 2021 European indoor championships, in Torun, Poland. This piece was by Stuart Weir, as he covered his 5th EA Indoor Champs, except this one was done remotely.
European indoor championships – Day 1
At the end of the first full day (plus a brief evening session of qualifiers yesterday), we have seen the first six medals decided. We have seen favorites win and another favorite defeated. We have seen one of the brightest talents on the world stage win and then be disqualified. We have seen the pentathletes start hurdling at 10.00am and finish running at 9.00pm and we have seen Nafi Thiam crowned champion.
We’ve also seen the men’s and women’s 400m athletes run a prelim in the morning and the semi-final in the evening to set up the final on the second evening. We have seen national records, world-leading performances, and many PRs. We have seen athletes achieve their dreams and we have seen other athletes scarcely able to believe that they’ve failed to achieve – when it really mattered – what they do routinely in practice. Controversially the evening ended with disqualification, all too common in indoor events. The incident, which I was considered in more detail in another article, raised two issues in my mind. Are the rules for disqualifications too strict in indoor races? Do the organizers carry more than a little of the responsibility for putting 13 athletes on a track with tight bends for a major final?
Marcin Lewandowski, 1,500m silver, photo by European Athletics
This is the fifth time that I’ve covered the European Indoor Championships but this one was different. I was watching it from home, watching BBC TV coverage with the commentators also in England. The event was taking place in an arena without spectators but then we have sadly got used to that.
Auriol Dongmo takes the shot put, photo by European Athletics
Alongside the winners and losers, I was keeping an eye on the 46 strong British team. It was a young team with many athletes in their first major championship. Some of them literally running indoors for the second time in their lives.
One could take many highlights of the day. My nominations include:
A world-class performance from the best in the world, Nafi Thiam.
Marcin Lewandowski getting his gold medal in the 1500m in his home country. (update: Jakob Ingebigtsen was rightly given gold post appeal).
A British first and third in the 3000m.
What a race! 💥
Amy-Eloise Markovc 🇬🇧 sprints to victory in the women’s 3000m final in #Torun2021. pic.twitter.com/c7jP12Il4p
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) March 5, 2021
But no, my highlight of the day, was Emily Borthwick jumping 1.91m to qualify for the high jump final. A modest achievement on the world stage perhaps – but my highlight for the sheer and utter joy in her reaction.
8th – Emily Borthwick – 1.91m (PB) q (through to the final)
More than anything, it was about just backing myself and believing that I could be up there with those girls.
2021 European Athletics Indoor Champs, @torun2021, photo by @EuroAthletics, @stuartweir, @BritAthletics pic.twitter.com/KrzIJ7q3LB— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) March 6, 2021
Winners
Women’s Shot Put Auriol Dongmo (Portugal) 19.34m
Women’s Pentathlon Nafi Thiam (Belgium) 4904
Women’s 3000m Amy-Eloise Markovic (GB) 8:46.43 PR
Men’s Shot Put Tomáš Stanek (Czech) 21:62m
Men’s Long Jump Miltiádis Tentoglou (Greece) 8.35m
Men’s 1500m Marcin Lewandowski (Poland) 3:38.06
