Shanice Craft calls EM silver "Wie Gold" after breakthrough in Birmingham

Under the floodlights of Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, the crowd hushed as Diskuswerferin Craft prepared for her final throw, a moment that would turn her third EM-Bronze Mal into a coveted Silber. "Wie Gold" she later described the achievement, the report noting Stand: 14.08.2026 • 23:20 Uhr.

From bronze to silver

Shanice Craft, aged 33, had previously settled for Bronze in Zurich 2014, Amsterdam 2016 and Berlin 2018. In the Finale of the Wettkampf she launched her third Versuch, the Scheibe soaring to 65,72 Meter – a personal best that secured the EM-Silbermedaille.

After the last attempt she stretched her arms toward the evening sky of Birmingham and shouted with joy, finally tasting a colour other than Bronze. The Lorbeeren she harvested marked a clear Genuss after years of standing on the podium’s third step.

"Das bedeutet mir sehr viel. Ich habe schon dreimal Bronze gewonnen und die letzte europäische Medaille ist schon acht Jahr her, deswegen ist das wie Gold für mich. Absolut geil", Craft said in a Sportschau interview. "Ich musste lange dafür arbeiten und habe hart dafür gekämpft. Deswegen bin ich einfach nur glücklich mit dem Ergebnis."

Jorinde van Klinken claims title

Den Titel holte sich Jorinde van Klinken aus den Niederlanden, who had already earned Silber in Kugelstoßen. Her first attempt sent the discus to 67,67 Meter, and after a previous Silber in Rom she celebrated her Erste EM title.

Bronze went to the Swedish Diskuswerferin Vanessa Kamga, who threw 64,61 Meter. Kristin Pudenz, Olympiasiegerin von Tokio 2021, placed fifth with 63,27 Meter, while the third Deutsche, Marike Steinacker, was eliminated in the Qualifikation.

Title defender Sandra Elkasevic from Kroatien, who had secured seven consecutive EM-Gold medals since 2010, missed the competition due to Verletzungsproblemen in 2026.

Looking ahead to LA 2028

Craft eyes the Olympic Games in LA 2028 as her next major goal, declaring that the Birmingham silver was "ein großer Schritt in Richtung Gold". She plans to celebrate "ordentlich" in Birmingham before turning her focus to the global stage.

Diskuswerfer Henrik Janssen also made headlines, delivering a surprise performance that marked the first German discus medal at an EM in twelve years, underscoring a resurgence for Die deutsche Mannschaft.