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Cyprus celebrated a highly successful showing at the 30th Balkan Indoor Athletics Championships in Belgrade, where the island’s athletes secured two gold medals and set two new national records, underscoring the steady rise of Cypriot athletics on the regional stage.
The nine-member Cypriot delegation returned home with standout performances led by champions Filippa Fotopoulou and Milan Trajkovic, both of whom topped the podium in their respective events.
Fotopoulou delivered her best performance of the season in the women’s long jump, winning gold with a leap of 6.49 metres. Coached by Luis Felipe Méliz, the experienced jumper demonstrated impressive consistency, producing four attempts beyond 6.42m, with her winning mark coming in the opening round. The victory was particularly meaningful for Fotopoulou, as it marked the first Balkan Championships gold medal of her career. Already one of Cyprus’ most decorated athletes at the Balkan level, she had previously collected four outdoor silver medals, two outdoor bronzes and two indoor silvers. Her 6.49m effort ranks as the fifth-best indoor performance of her career; she continues to hold the Cypriot indoor national record at 6.53m.
In the men’s 60m hurdles, Milan Trajkovic reaffirmed his dominance by capturing his third Balkan Indoor gold medal, crossing the finish line in 7.71 seconds. The 2019 European indoor champion had previously won the title in Istanbul in 2015 and again in Belgrade in 2017, further cementing his status as one of Cyprus’ most successful track athletes.
Cyprus’ campaign in Belgrade was strengthened by two national records. Petros Michaelides finished fourth in the men’s indoor shot put with a throw of 19.49 metres, setting a new Cyprus record in the event. Antonis Katsantonis also rewrote the record books, clocking 6.68 seconds to place fifth in the men’s U20 60m.
With these results, Cyprus’ tally at the Balkan Indoor Athletics Championships rose to 11 gold medals and 25 medals overall.
