Valentina Savva competes at European Athletics Championships in Birmingham

Cypriot hammer thrower Valentina Savva placed 9th in the first qualifying group at the 27th European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, held on Monday, August 10, 2026. Savva achieved a best throw of 65.50 meters on her second attempt, following an initial throw of 65.21 meters and a foul on her third. The athlete, coached by Giorgos Arestis, must now await the results of the second qualifying group to determine her final ranking and whether she will advance to the final. The automatic qualification mark for the final is set at 71.50 meters, or by finishing among the top 12 athletes across both groups.

At 21, this marks Savva’s second consecutive European Championship appearance, cementing her status as a top-tier European athlete. Despite her credentials as a former U20 world silver medalist and U23 European bronze medalist, the athlete expressed disappointment regarding her performance. She noted that her training at the University of California has impacted her rhythm this season, preventing her from matching last year’s personal best of 70.22 meters. The second qualifying group is scheduled to conclude later today, which will finalize the list of finalists.