Indeed, just six months after the Olympics and the oncoming generation signs its decision to keep the country’s athletics in a respectful position of the world athletics scene. Proving that the long pre-Olympics preparation was a work with depth, not making do with the preparation of some stars just to be ready for an instant shine in Athens (not to mention that some of these stars were finally absent in Athens).

Georgia Kokloni was a hope for the medal, although it seemed more difficult this time than in Vienna. But Kokloni knew what she wants. She improved her personal best during the competition and got the bronze. She is just 23 and has a lot to do in the future.

We had written many times before Madrid that Maria Karastamati is one of the hottest prospects of the Greek Athletics. She starts her international race earlier than predicted. Obviously, we’ll have to discuss a lot on her, in the coming years.

Both, Kokloni and Karastamati, will soon have to retain what they reached in Madrid. The fame needs verification, which comes only from their improvement through competing in many international events. The new country’s legislation actually makes these meetings an obligation for the athletes. It’s a new element, which will be proved extremely beneficial for the country’s athletics in the near future.

“This competition is a new start for my career” said Stella Pilatou after receiving the long jump silver medal. Definitely it is! Pilatou, with a personal best of 6.80m seems ready for taking-off. The 7 meters is a question of time for the 25-year-old jumper.

Who can blaim Konstantinos Filippidis for his disqualification from the pole vault final? He failed at 5.70m, which would be a world indoor juniors record. But, as his coach, Dimitris Kytteas, says “Kostas can break even the outdoor record in summer”.

Maybe it was not the best championships for the hurdlers. Flora Redoumi could had performed better, while Georgia Stoyannidou, a former European Juniors Champion (representing Bulgaria in 2001) has the time to conform to her new environment. Her mark of 13.05 in the 110m hurdles as a junior is a promise for the future. It was the first time for Alexandros Theofanov. Next can be much better.

The triple jump was a disappointment for Greece. We never expected that none of the Greeks would participate in this final.

The preliminary round proved difficult even for Devetzi. We knew that the Olympic silver medallist was not prepared for the championships. Devetzi is what she looks like, a smiling extrovert woman. Her decision to participate was not a result of rational thoughts and estimations, but just of enthusiasm. “I want to be there because I like to compete”. These were the thoughts of Pigi, not the thoughts of the Olympian. She stopped the training in the middle of the program and went to Madrid. And failed. There are not excuses for the failure but she doesn’t search for excuses. And, for sure, she doesn’t count any taunts or expediencies.

Irene Dimitraki and Athanasia Perra (one more European Juniors Champion) did not approach their season’s bests. They could be in the final, but they weren’t.

Louis Tsatoumas is a very special case. He is also European Champion in Juniors and under 23 categories, definitely a huge long jump talent. But the problem has started being very serious. It’s really a shame for an athlete of his class what happened in Madrid, six fouls! In the last two years the most of his attempts do not count, but how happens and the athlete jumps 8.09 in the preliminary and destroys anything in the final? It was the warmer hope for a medal in Madrid and brings the deepest disappointment. It’s a technical problem? It’s a problem of mentality or maturity? Both? We don’t know. But, it’s sure. Both Tsatoumas and his coach have a lot to do. The Greek athletics do not have the margins to destroy such talents.

Some others did not go to these Championships. The Greek Federation decided, correctly, not to send Katerina Stefanidi, the new pole vault world youth record holder. We don’t need to exhaust a talent who has already made many competitions this year. Another world youth record holder, Douvalidis, did not compete in the indoor season. Other stars, Chalkia, Iakovakis, Vasdeki do not compete in winter, while other younger athletes were not ready this time.

New chances are coming for all…

M.N., 8/3/2005