Shot putter Jolien Boumkwo caused enthusiasm at the European Team Championships in Chorzow, Poland, with a hopeless trip to the hurdles.
The Belgian finished a wide margin in last place in the 100m in 32.81 seconds, but secured her team two points after Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji was disqualified. Spain’s Teresa Errandonea won the race in 13.22 seconds.
Anne Zagre was supposed to start for Poland, but the former U20 European champion had to sit out injured. Because no replacement was available, Boumkwo jumped in spontaneously, leisurely climbed over the hurdles – and was celebrated by the fans.
“My team is the most important thing for me,” said the 29-year-old Boumkwo, who started with long training pants and towered over her competitors in some cases: “I couldn’t let us lose a point. There wasn’t one for me risk if I took it easy.”
Boumkwo, who is also the Belgian hammer throw champion, finished seventh in the shot put on Friday. Despite their commitment, Belgium are bottom of the 16 teams after 25 of 37 competitions and fear relegation to the second division.