Cyprus secures historic bronze at the 21st World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon

The 21st World Athletics U20 Championships, held in Eugene, Oregon, from August 5 to August 9, 2026, saw a delegation of 11 Cypriot athletes compete among 1,858 participants from 147 countries. The standout achievement for the team was delivered by 17-year-old discus thrower Marina Hadjikosta, who won the bronze medal with a throw of 54.88 meters during the final held on August 7. Hadjikosta, who recently became the European U18 champion, maintained a strong performance throughout the competition to secure her place on the podium.

In other events, several Cypriot athletes recorded notable personal milestones, even if they did not reach the finals. Sprinter Antonis Katsantonis advanced to the 100m semifinals, while Charalambos Zinonos set a new national U20 record in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.70 seconds. Alexandros Gamraoui reached the final of the hammer throw, ultimately placing 7th. Despite the efforts of the wider team, including Katerina Karagianni, Lampros Christofidis, and others, several participants concluded their campaigns after the qualifying rounds, gaining valuable experience for future international competitions in 2028.