Paweł Fajdek’s nightmare. This scenario is difficult to accept
Paweł Fajdek without a medal at the European Athletics Championships 2026. The Polish hammer thrower stayed on the podium for a long time in the final, but unfortunately… he missed the medal by 36 cm.
First of all, there was a lack of distance. Paweł Fajdek started Tuesday’s (i.e. August 11) hammer throw final strongly, with a result of 79.13 m.
As it ultimately turned out, it was the first and… best attempt of the day by an extremely experienced hammer thrower. The Pole did not improve his result, and his rivals did the opposite.
Ultimately, Fajdek was classified in 5th place. The winner was Hungarian Bence Halasz with an amazing result of 84.25 m.
This is definitely the best result in men’s hammer throw in the 2026 season.
Paweł Fajdek furious after the final. Was it the organizers’ fault?
It is worth recalling that in the case of the Polish representatives, what happened the day before, i.e. during Monday’s qualifying rounds, was also a big disappointment. Then Wojciech Nowicki, the defender of the European Championship gold, said goodbye to the final.
Coming back to Fajdek, the five-time world champion admitted that during the final battle the cards were dealt by… a poorly prepared wheel. At least from the perspective of the Pole, who has a technique that did not allow him to make optimal throws when he had to face an improved surface.
– I think it was obvious to the naked eye that I couldn’t get into the first turn. There is an ice rink where I put my foot in, and if someone made a wheel three days before the competition and polished it, and I was the only one in that place, so there was no chance of it being moved. And I’m furious. I couldn’t make a single shot. If I make a good, light throw of 79 meters, it seems to me that I was well prepared for the competition. However, I couldn’t show it. Unfortunately, it was not given to me – admitted a visibly nervous Fajdek in front of the TVP Sport camera after the final.
The unanswered question is what would happen if the wheel was actually optimally prepared. Fajdka can throw over 80 meters, which he showed in the 2026 season.
And the titled Polish representative was only 36 cm short of the bronze medal at this year’s European Championships.
