Day 3 Review: French Sweep Podium in Men’s Triathlon

Competition is heating up in the Munich summer sun, with 21 European champions crowned in what proved to be a super Saturday at the European Championships Munich 2022. The athletes had the crowds going across all venues, making them hold their breath during high-flying tricks, cheer on history-making performances and go ‘oh là là’ in sight of a tricolore podium.

PODIUM À LA FRANÇAISE

Triathlon seems to come as easy as 1-2-3 for the French as they swept the podium in the men’s race. Léo Bergere crossed the finish line first, followed by his countrymen Pierre Le Corre and Dorian Coninx.

“After two laps on the run I decided to make a move and test the legs and see how the others reacted. I just went for it and it was enough,” an elated Bergere commented following the race. “I am so glad to finally win a race. I am so used to finishing in second and third place.

“It was a perfect day for team France. It was a crazy course, the first time I had the opportunity to race with such a big and loud crowd. I was feeling like Alpe d’Huez at the Tour de France. Amazing day.”

He was also full of praise for his teammates, crediting them for making the victory possible. “We really went for it on the bike. It was clearly a strategy we wanted to make. We worked well together to stay away from the chasing group, and it really worked out.”

Read the full review here.

COMPLETING THE COLLECTION

Claiming that Janja Garnbret (SLO) has been a dominant force in sport climbing would be an utter understatement. The 23-year-old entered Saturday’s lead final with, amongst others, one Olympic and six world championships gold medals to her name and a clear mission in mind – adding a European Championships gold to her silverware collection.

Her relief and joy were palpable after she completed the mission successfully. She was joined on the podium by silver medallist Jessica Pilz from Austria and France's Manon Hily who clinched bronze.

“It feels amazing to tick the remaining box,” she said. “The European championships is probably one of the hardest to win because you are expected to win it. If you can win World Cups, then people think that you should also win the European championships.”

The stunning architecture of Königsplatz also served as perfect backdrop for the men’s boulder final which saw Austrian Nicolai Užnik run away with gold ahead of Sam Avezou (FRA) and Adam Ondra (CZE).

You can find the full review here.

HAT-TRICK FOR JEANJEAN

The UEC BMX Freestyle Park European Championships came to a close on Saturday with a spectacular and suspenseful men’s final. At the end of the night, the podium left the crowd with a sense of déjà-vu, as Frenchman Anthony Jeanjean won a third consecutive European gold after stomping his second run to record 93.60 points. British rider Kieran Reilly (92.10) and Croatia’s Marin Ranteš (88.80) rounded out the podium.

“I am feeling amazing, I am very happy about my result,” an ecstatic Jeanjean said following the final. “It was so important for me to do this after winning the previous two (European Championships).”

The riders enjoyed the support of thousands of fans who left a lasting impression on Ranteš: “The atmosphere is insane. There are so many people, and they are cheering for all of us. I do not know how many people are here but seeing it just makes you want to cry because we just had so much support.”

Check out the full review here.

MAMMA MIA!

The Italians have been enjoying a fairy-tale campaign in the women’s artistic gymnastics events. European all-around champion Asia D’Amato (ITA) has clinched her second gold medal at the as she helped Italy win the women’s team title on Saturday. For Italy, it’s the first European team title since 2006 and their second ever.

“This medal is even more special for me than the all-around one, because I can share it with my team,” D’Amato admitted.

The Italians competed flawless routines across all four events and scored 165.163 points, four points ahead of second-place finishers Great Britain (161.164). Hosts Germany clinched bronze, their first-ever European team medal (158.430).

More information on the team final can be found here.

CHAMPIONS’ GALLERY

FIRST ROWING MEDALS HANDED OUT

Great Britain topped the medal table on the first day of rowing at the European Championships Munich 2022, with wins in four events together with two silvers and a bronze.

The British men’s eight capped a dominant day on the waters of the Olympic Regatta Centre with a clear-water win to add to earlier victories in the men’s and women’s four and women’s quadruple scull.

"It's enjoyable to see how far we can push it and push ourselves. It'd be boring if you just got the season's first race, perfect race and then you were like 'oh, job done'. But no, we want to keep pushing the boundaries,” said Sholto Carnegie (GBR) of the men’s eight win.

Find all the highlights from day 3 here.

ROLLERCOASTER RIDE

When Mieke Kröger (GER) described her emotions after winning gold in the women’s individual pursuit, she might as well have described the whole rollercoaster of emotions Saturday’s track cycling events at Messe München had in store. “It’s mixed,” she said, and mixed it was.

The home crowd was loud and happy when their favourites took three out of five available European titles but went silent when Letizia Paternoster (ITA) suffered a heavy crash in the women’s elimination race. The Italian left the track on a stretcher, under a loud applause from the worried spectators.

Check out all medal winners in the full review.

FLYING THE FLAG

The European Table Tennis Championships kicked off at Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle with a packed schedule of doubles’ action.

Solomiya Brateyko (UKR) and Anton Limonov (UKR) won their mixed doubles preliminary round of 32 match comfortably in three games against Foteini Meletie and Marios Yiangou from Cyprus. However, for the Ukrainian pair, who have had to leave their home country to be able to prepare for the European Championships Munich 2022, the participation is already a victory in itself.

"We are very happy that we won this match, and we are really happy to be here at the European Championships," Brateyko said.

"For us, now, in this moment, it is really important to play such competitions and show the flag of Ukraine.”

Saturday’s programme also had mixed doubles medal candidates Sabine Winter (GER) and Benedict Duda (GER) ride the home fans’ support to beat Italy’s Jordy Piccolin and Debora Vivarelli 3-1.

”It’s a really nice feeling to play in front of the home crowd,” Winter said. ”I’ve been looking forward to this competition a lot. You don’t always play in front of a home crowd and you also don’t have a multi-sport event very often.”

You can find more insights on the first day of table tennis action here.