Track and field events - Shot putter Ogunleye earns first European Championship bronze medal.
Discus thrower Yemisi Ogunleye claims Germany's first medal in the Athletics European Championships in Rome, securing a bronze. The 25-year-old from Mannheim had a shaky start but managed to land a throw of 18.62 meters.
Ogunleye had previously won silver in March at the Indoor World Championships in Glasgow. In Rome, she had chances for more as Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands threw an impressive 18.77 meters, with teammate Jorinde van Klinken taking silver at 18.67 meters. Fourth place went to Alina Kenzel from Stuttgart with a throw of 18.55 meters, while TV Wattenscheid 01's Julia Ritter finished seventh with a distance of 18.18 meters.
The morning's qualifying round had presented little trouble for Ogunleye, reaching 18.40 meters. Come nightfall, there was a disappointing turn of events; the sparsely attended Olympic Stadium barely witnessed her first throw of 17.04 meters. Semifinals were nearly out of reach, but she made it with a barely acceptable 17.87 meters in her third attempt. Finally in the fifth round, Ogunleye bounced back, hitting the mark for a bronze medal. Unfortunately, her last chance for a gilded victory slipped away.
Read also:
Yemisi Ogunleye's medal-winning performance in Athletics at the European Championships in Rome wasn't her first international recognition. Prior to Rome, she bagged a silver medal in the discus throw at the Indoor World Championships held in Glasgow, England. After her successful stint in Europe, Ogunleye set her sights on competing in Athletics events in Italy, hoping to replicate her success.
