Top throwers Müller and Ostapchuk are on the way to Bar
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| Germany's Nadine Muller will go to Bar as the favourite to win the discus title at the European Cup Winter Throwing on 17-18 March. |
Both women won silver medals in their specialist disciplines at the 2011 World Championships last summer.
Müller and Ostapchuk are also both big fans of the European Cup Winter Throwing event and have regularly competed in it in the past and the pair both winning in 2010 when it was held in the French city of Arles.
Müller has already been in fine form despite the chilly conditions outdoors in Germany, throwing a world-leading 66.19m in Halle two weeks ago and then 66.07m in Kienbaum on Saturday.
“In Halle, I couldn't believe it when the measurement went up, I didn't think I was in 66-metres shape. I'm sure there will be a lot of people who will be saying 'I wonder what Muller's been doing this winter',” she commented last week.
“The fact is, I've been getting stronger over the winter. I don't think myself and the weightlifting bar will ever be the best of friends but we are a lot closer than we were before,” joked Müller.
“The danger is that throwing so well so early, some people will also make me the favourite for the Olympic gold medal. I don't think but my own personal expectation is that I should be in contention for a medal.”
Ostapchuk, the 2010 European Athletics Championships gold medallist will first compete at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul one week before Bar, where she aims to defend the title she won in 2010. She also won World Indoor Championships silver medallist in 2001, 2003 and 2008.
Both women have also indicated that they intend to compete at the European Athletics Championships this summer, which will be held in the Finnish capital of Helsinki between 27 June – 1 July.
The 2012 European Cup Winter Throwing official championships website can be found here.
http://www.ecwt2012bar.org/
