Ukraine’s Kamila Konotop won her third senior continental title in a dramatic women’s 59kg contest at the European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. Konotop, who achieved the 15kg clearing, did not appear in the drama, but seven lifters who aim to rank higher in her Olympic rankings did.
This day was an important one for those aiming to qualify for the 2024 Paris Games. Konotop is certain to finish near the top of the rankings, but there are still hopelessly close battles further down the rankings.
Camila Konotop (UKR) and team
The athletes who started the day in 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 15th were unable to move up in the rankings. Taylor Wilkins of the United States, Nina Sterks of Belgium and Lucrezia Magistris of Italy, ranked 10th to 12th, all suffered heavy losses. This was Magistris’ fourth bomb attack in six qualifying appearances.
Silver medalist Dora Chacounte (France) failed in the clean and jerk twice, so she was only in 13th place. Alina Shapanova, an independent neutral athlete from Belarus, only completed two of her good lifts, but she lost 12 kg from her personal best total in qualifying.
However, both lifters had a good day. Finland’s Saara Letulainen improved by 12kg, moving from 27th to 16th place, while last year’s 55kg champion Andrea Cotorta of Romania rose from 28th to 19th in her first appearance in this weight class.
The European Championships were supposed to be a turn of events for the 30-year-old marketing and social media entrepreneur who has to balance training and career. She was satisfied with 95 wins, 119 losses, and 214 points, winning silver medals in the clean and jerk and bronze medals in total.
Sara Letulainen (FIN)
At the 2022 championship, Letulainen suffered a serious ankle injury in the first snatch. She was on her crutches and then tore her kneecap. Last year, she suffered another injury a week before the competition in Yerevan.
“I just had a little bit of bad luck.” she said. “I felt good in training this time, so I came here hoping to improve my overall best time in qualifying and fight for a medal. Thanks to my clean and jerk at the end, it was a really good day. Ta.”
Kotorta was 10 years younger than Letulainen and had struggled with his weight change. “It was difficult at the beginning of the process, but I’m okay now.” she said after achieving 94-118-214. This was an 11kg increase from her personal best of 55kg in qualifying. To break into the top 10, he probably needs another 10kg for the final qualifying round in Thailand, which ends on April 11th. “Of course I’ll try.” she said.
Andrea Cotruta (ROU)
Konotop declined the final challenge 105-125-230. Chakunte won the bronze and silver medals with a total of 98 wins, 117 wins, and 215 losses. Sterks placed second in the 101kg snatch but failed in the clean and jerk.
Jess Gordon Brown of Great Britain topped Group B with 90 wins, 110 losses and 200 points, achieving a total weight of 200 kg for the first time in an international competition. His teammate Zoe Smith failed her first snatch in the A session and retired.
Wilkins achieved a career best of 99 kg, becoming the fifth athlete to achieve the bomb. Team USA will compete in Bulgaria instead of the Pan American Championships in Venezuela, per government recommendations. Americans cannot win medals, but are allowed by the IWF to lift as guests, and their totals count towards the Olympic rankings.
This is the second consecutive day that Armenia’s junior world champion won the gold medal. On Tuesday it was Alexandra Grigorian and today it was Gor Sahakyan in the men’s 67kg class.
Sahakyan, who won at this weight last year with a total of 320kg, could not match this time as he failed the snatch twice. He took the lead in total with his first clean and jerk, but missed his next clean and jerk and rejected his final attempt 140-171-311.
Turkey won silver and bronze in total. Last year’s third-place finisher, Khan Kaliman, won 142 wins, 168 losses, and 310, while Ferdi Haldar won the gold medal along the way with 136 wins, 169 losses, and 304.
Italy’s Sergio Masida, heading to Paris in the 61kg weight class, failed in his last two attempts, dropping from second in the snatch to fourth overall with a score of 141-162-303.
Written by Brian Oliver