Silja Kosonen wins hammer gold with 76.28m throw in Birmingham

Silja Kosonen secured her first major senior title on Wednesday by winning the women's hammer throw gold. The Finnish athlete recorded a best distance of 76.28m during the competition.

Kosonen achieved the winning mark in the second round and followed it up with another throw exceeding 75 metres in the sixth round. This victory marks a transition from her previous success in under-20, under-23, and world under-20 categories to the senior level, following fourth and fifth-place finishes at recent global and continental championships.

The result was unexpected for the Finnish camp due to the performance of Krista Tervo. Tervo entered the event as the season's world leader with a best of 77.35m and had remained unbeaten in four competitions over 75 metres this year. However, she finished 11th after two fouls and a single legal throw of 67.74m.

Italy's Sara Fantini took the silver medal with an opening throw of 74.35m, marking her second consecutive European hammer medal. Norway's Beatrice Nedberge Llano earned the bronze with a throw of 72.88m, which represents Norway's first European Championship medal in this discipline.

Poland's Anita Włodarczyk finished in fourth place with a distance of 72.37m, narrowly missing a seventh European medal. Other notable performances included Nicola Tuthill of Ireland in fifth place with 70.33m and Great Britain's Charlotte Payne, who finished sixth after recording 70.12m. France's Rose Loga failed to reach the top 12 in the final.