Danish athletics chief calls European Championships a success despite missed medal target

Despite failing to achieve its official goal of winning a medal and securing three top-8 finishes, the European Athletics Championships were a success from a Danish perspective, according to the sport's chief.

Jackie Newton, sports chief for Dansk Atletik, described the championship as "successful" despite the mixed results. "We had some ups and downs, and that's how it always is. We sent the largest team in recent times, and especially the young debutants performed at a very high level," she told the Dansk Atletik website.

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We had some ups and downs, and that's how it always is. We sent the largest team in recent times, and especially the young debutants performed at a very high level.

The official target was one medal and three top-8 placements for the team of 28 athletes, 14 of whom were debutants. Newton emphasized that this championship was "for the future," and many athletes performed significantly better than their seeding, even when qualifying on the "outermost mandates."

"We didn't get our medal, but one must understand that the top of Danish elite is very narrow, and we must be careful not to put too much pressure on the few athletes we have who are in the European elite," Newton explained. In total, 17 Danish athletes and two relays performed better than their seeding, with the best Danish placement being seventh. Three athletes reached the top 12, and five more finished in the top 15 of their respective disciplines.

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We didn't get our medal, but one must understand that the top of Danish elite is very narrow, and we must be careful not to put too much pressure on the few athletes we have who are in the European elite.