Already after the first starts, he felt that he would not be able to perform in Birmingham as he wanted, and eventually the most versatile Lithuanian athlete was held back by renewed injuries.
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However, he fought until the end – he did not withdraw from the competition, although he was not happy with the 18th place and the results shown.
“At the end of the day – the mood is good because there was a great emotion in the stadium, the support of the spectators,” E. Benkunskas began.
“Talking about the performance itself, there were all kinds of thoughts… Maybe not to finish? (As five other decathletes did, including the defending champion Estonian Johannes Ermas, – ed.). Injuries renewed – both in the shoulder and groin. This also affected the worse javelin throw result.
The feeling was mixed. But I pulled myself together. I never withdraw (from competitions) without a good reason. I always try to finish what I start. No exception here. I pulled myself together, finished, and then the whole atmosphere at the end, the Lithuanian tricolor, walking around the stadium – it was something wow, wonderful.”
E. Benkunskas scored a total of 7689 points and took 18th place among 25 athletes who started. However, only 20 finished. Both days Birmingham was scorched by an unbearable 35-degree heat.
- 100 m: 11.27 sec. (SB – 11.19 sec., PB – 10.77 sec.) – 21st place.
- Long jump: 6.90 m (SB – 7.06 m, PB – 7.32 m) – 22nd.
- Shot put:14.85 m (SB – 15.66 m, PB – 16.00 m) – 9th.
- High jump: 1.93 m (SB – 2.00 m, PB – 2.10 m) – 17th.
- 400 m run: 50.29 sec. (SB – 50.29 sec., PB – 49.73 sec.) – 22nd.
- 110 m hurdles: 15.04 sec. (SB – 14.41 sec., PB – 14.26 sec.) – 20th.
- Discus throw: 46.56 m (SB – 48.59 m, PB – 49.89 m) – 5th.
- Pole vault: 4.50 m (SB – 4.60 m, PB – 4.90 m) – 18th.
- Javelin throw: 59.13 m (SB – 65.12 m, PB – 69.67 m) – 11th.
- 1500 m: 4 min. 45.30 sec. (SB – 4:50.04, PB – 4:43.91) – 20th.
- * SB – best result of this season, PB – personal best.
But then the hard part began: after a question about the support of his other half – Lithuanian javelin throw record holder Liveta Jasiūnaitė at home – tears began to well up in the decathlete’s eyes.
“In a month we are going to become parents. Although at that time it should also be my last competition, but at that time I want to be close to Liveta and support her in every way,” E. Benkunskas opened up.
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“Even now I am tearing up. Their support helped me a lot (L. Jasiūnaitė posted on social media during the championship about their child kicking in the belly, supporting E. Benkunskas at the championship, – ed.).
To be honest, I still don’t understand what it is, but we are very, very much looking forward to it. I don’t even know what to expect as a father. New challenges, etc.
I know I will be a good father. I will try to be one (voice starts to break). A very joyful moment awaits. The eleventh event (laughs).”
- This is E. Benkunskas’s second continental championship. In 2024 in Rome, he took 15th place (7882 points).
- The athlete’s season best is 8080 points (July in Poland), and career best – 8098 (2024 in Austria).
- The Lithuanian decathlon record has remained unbroken since 1988, when Rišardas Malachovskis scored 8437 points.
The European decathlon champion became the world champion and Olympic silver medalist German Leo Neugebauer, scoring 8611 points.
Silver went to another German, Niklas Kaul (8573 points), bronze to Norwegian Sander Skotheim (8433 points).
Estonian star, 2024 European champion Johannes Ermas, who was fifth after the first day, did not start on the second day.
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You can find the Lithuanians’ schedule and expectations at the European Championship here.
