European Athletics Championships

Medal fight! Hudson in the javelin throw final

Victoria Hudson

(Bild: Thomas Windestam)

Great morning for Austrian athletics at the European Championships in Rome! Within 15 minutes, first javelin thrower Victoria Hudson and then Raphael Pallitsch sensationally reached the final in the 1500m! Hudson advanced to the final on Tuesday as fifth overall in qualifying with 60.15 m, then Pallitsch finished sixth in the first preliminary heat in 3:44.29 in a heart-stopping finish, which was enough to advance to the final on Wednesday!

Those were dramatic moments in the late morning hours! As planned, Pallitsch had taken the lead in his preliminary heat for a long time. This allowed him to set the pace and run unhindered on the inside. From the halfway point of the race, however, he was overtaken step by step by several runners. On the home straight, he then stormed up to sixth place on the outside in an incredible finish. Precision work! With a lead of one hundredth over Mario Garcia (Spa), he made it to the final in 3:44.29 to 3:44.30 and made a jubilant leap. He joked: "I hope I didn't injure myself there..."

Raphael Pallitsch (center)

(Bild: Thomas Windestam)

"Dream goal achieved!"
In the first interview, he cheered: "I've achieved my dream goal!" During the race, he had always counted his position in the preliminary run. "I always knew where I was and had the situation under control. I trusted in what I could do!" The sprint to the finish!

This year, with his two records in Rehlingen (3:33.78) and Ostrava (3:33.59), he made the final breakthrough that had been in the offing at the World Championships in Budapest the previous year. There he produced his first really great class time with 3:36.47 in the preliminary heat. And now, as a 34-year-old, he is in the European Championship final with 15 participants! Following a protest, nine instead of six athletes were allowed to advance to the final heat due to a heavy fall in the second preliminary heat.

Second ÖLV medal in Rome?
Previously, Victoria Hudson, like Raphael Pallitsch from SVS, had also reached the final on Tuesday (21:36). Of course, this was already expected for her. With her record of 66.06 m this year, she is number 1 in Europe this season. "But the qualification is usually worse than the final!" But she didn't miss a beat in the qualifiers in Rome, throwing her 600 gram javelin to 60.15 m in her second attempt and taking third place in Group A. Overall, she was fifth in both qualifying groups.

Victoria Hudson

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

This meant that the 28-year-old from Lower Austria could look forward to the final with confidence. Perhaps she will win the second precious metal for Austria at these European Championships after discus thrower Lukas Weißhaidinger (silver). Like Weißhaidinger, Hudson is also coached by Gregor Högler. Not an easy double burden for the coach, but he is obviously doing a great job. Incidentally, Weißhaidinger also finished third in his Group A qualifier in Rome...

"Anything is possible!"
"Anything is possible in the final," said Victoria Hudson after qualifying, "if I hit a shot right, it can go very, very far." But she also put the brakes on a little: "The cards are reshuffled in the final. It doesn't matter that I'm the number 1 in Europe this year. I'm mature enough not to overestimate myself." She is looking forward to the final with great anticipation: "It will be a cool competition, I'm sure there will be a great atmosphere."

She will be cheered on by a large group of fans on Tuesday - as she was in the qualifiers. Her grandparents, both over 80 years old, have also flown in from England to Rome, while her mom and dad and, of course, her boyfriend will be there in the stands of the Olympic Stadium to support her. 

Like Herma Bauma once did?
Victoria Hudson has reached her ninth final at the European Championships in the women's javelin. The legendary Herma Bauma, who won silver in Brussels in 1950, is enthroned at the top. "Of course I want to win a medal like Herma Bauma once did," says the 27-year-old. It would be an honor to continue the great red-white-red tradition. Herma Bauma is also a role model for her. After all, she is always reminded of Austria's only female Olympic athletics champion by a memorial stone to Herma Bauma at the entrance to the Federal Training Center in Südstadt.

ÖLV final appearances in the women's javelin throw
at the European Athletics Championships:

(2) Herma Bauma 43.87 Brussels 23.08.1950

(6) Erika Strasser 49.90 Belgrade 14.09.1962

(8 ) Erika Strasser 49.26 Budapest 03.09.1966

(9) Traude Schönauer 48.56 Budapest 03.09.1966

(9) Eva Janko 55.16 Rome 03.09.1974

(10) Eva Janko 48.54 Budapest 03.09.1966

(10) Victoria Hudson 56.07 Munich 20.08.2022

(14) Marlies Schwärzler 35.28 Bern 25.08.1954

European Athletics Championships in Rome:

Men: 1500 m, 1st preliminary heat: 1st Gourley (Gb) 3:44.05, 6th Pallitsch (Ö) 3:44.29. - Overall ranking for the final (ranked by time): 1st J. Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 3:37.65, 14th Pallitsch 3:44.29. After a protest, nine instead of six athletes were allowed to advance to the final heat due to a fall from the second preliminary heat.

Women: Javelin throw, qualification: group A: 1st Obst (Nor) 61.45, 2nd Vilagós (Srb) 60.57, 3rd Hudson 60.15 (58.73 - 60.15 - x); overall ranking after qualification: 1st Obst (Nor) 61.45, 2nd Andrejczyk (Pol) 60.61, 3rd Vilagós (Srb) 60.57, 4th Tzengko (Gri) 60.48, 5th Hudson (Ö) 60.15.