Sports Bulletin Report
Munich (Germany):-The Polish women dominated proceedings at the European Championships Munich 2022 as they locked out the podium of the women’s speed final before Ukraine’s Danyil Boldyrev danced with delight at taking the men’s title.
For the third day in a row, a full house at the Königsplatz in Munich, Germany, watched on excitedly as the speedsters went to work on the 15m Speed wall as the crowds cheered every race and tight finish.
Looking at the start list for the women’s event, it was hard to look past a strong Polish squad of five climbers which included a current world champion and world record holder. And they didn’t disappoint.
Three medals were assured for the nation as the semifinal line up was made up of Aleksandra Miroslaw, Natalia Kalucka, Aleksandra Kalucka and Patrycja Chudziak – who knocked out compatriot Anna Brozek in the quarterfinal, all representing Poland.
World record holder Miroslaw was a second clear of Chudziak in her semifinal and awaited one of the Kalucka sisters who faced off in the other semi. It was Aleksandra who just edged the sibling rivalry to advance for a shot at the gold while Natalia had to battle for bronze.
The final was a tense affair with Miroslaw seeming to stall near the start of the route, but she kept her cool as Aleksandra Kalucka looked to have a stutter of her own to let her rival edge ahead. Miroslaw tapped the top at 6.922 to take gold with Kalucka just behind with 7.085 and a silver medal.
"I was prepared for this for the whole year,” said Miroslaw. “I was always expecting that my championship competition would be the best one. Sometimes it is not very good, like last year's world championship, but I know that I took a lesson (from that) and I wanted to win here this European title."
In the bronze medal match Natalia Kalucka ensured she joined her sister on the podium by tapping at 7.197 compared to Chudziak’s 7.459.
Natalia Kalucka said: “I’m really happy because this year was really hard for me and I’m very proud of myself and my sister. I like competing with my sister.”
