Weightlifter Dan Betka (on the top step of the podium) set a new European Youth Championships record in the 89 kg category // Photo: ewf.sport
Among girls under 17 in the weight category up to 58 kg there was no equal to 16-year-old Nikoleta Cojocaru, who became the absolute European champion among juniors. She lifted 85 kg in the snatch and 105 kg in the deadlift. With the result of 190 kg in the sum of two exercises she won the big and two small gold medals.
The big silver medal was won by Amelie Pelta from Gibraltar (182 kg), the bronze medalist was Ilaida Ertugrul from Turkey (178 kg).
Within the competitions among athletes under 15 years old in the weight category up to 44 kg Ekaterina Vilcu realized three approaches in both disciplines – snatch and jerk. The pupil of Sergiu Kretzu won 55 kg in snatch and 70 kg in jerk.
With a total result of 125 kg, the Moldovan weightlifter confidently climbed the highest step of the podium, she also won a small gold medal in snatch and a small silver medal in jerk. Gisela Ruano Herreros (Spain), who took the final second place, won the 122 kg barbell. At the same time, the hostess won a small gold medal in the jerk. Bronze medalist Sevim Iremsoo (Turkey) demonstrated the final result of 121 kg. She also won a small silver medal in the snatch.
The boys also performed quite brightly. Dan Betka won big and small gold medals, as well as a small silver medal. In the weight category up to 89 kg among boys under 17 years old he demonstrated a total result of 269 kg, setting a new record of the European Youth Championships. The Moldovan athlete left behind Harisson McGrogan from Ireland (267 kg; small gold medalist in the 149 kg jerk) and Sergey Plotnikov from Russia, who competed in a neutral status (264 kg; silver medalist in the 148 kg jerk). Betca, who lifted 146 kg in the deadlift, won bronze in that event. In the snatch, the Moldovan weightlifter was the best with 123 kg, Kamil Andrzejewski lifted one kilogram less, and McGrogan managed 118 kg.
Danu Sekrieru won big and small silver medals, as well as a small gold medal in the weight category up to 60 kg among athletes under 15 years old. His final result (251 kg) was one kilogram less than the winner Ramazan Efe Yilmaz from Turkey. The big bronze medal with the result of 247 kg was won by Russian Evgeny Butuzov, represented under a neutral flag.
A great density of results was demonstrated in the snatch. Sekrieru, who lifted a barbell weighing 114 kg, was one kilogram ahead of Armenia’s David Arakelyan, who beat Butuzov by the same margin. Yilmaz (141 kg) was the winner in the shot put, Sekrieru was second (137 kg) and Ben Brennan of Ireland (135 kg) won the small bronze medal.
192 athletes (96 girls and boys each) from 29 countries took part in the U-15 European Youth Championships. In the U-17 tournament 214 athletes (112 girls and 102 boys) from 34 European countries competed.
