An ecstatic Betty Heidler after the winning the women's hammer gold with a season best throw of 76.38m.

When Betty Heidler won the world title in 2007 it was with just 2cm to spare. But tonight the 26-year-old became European champion by a comfortable margin at the end of a nervous hammer final that failed to come to life on a buzzing night in the Olympic stadium.

Heidler defeated the two favourites, Anita Wlodarczyk and Tatyana Lysenko, the world record holder and defending champion respectively, finding her best form of the season when it mattered most to become the first German champion at this event.

The results suggest Heidler dominated the event with the two biggest throws of the night, 75.92 in the second round and the winning mark of 76.38 in the fourth. But in truth, it was a case of the two biggest names failing to catch fire throughout a largely lacklustre competition.

Wlodarczyk, who took Heidler’s world title in Berlin, has been virtually unbeatable throughout the 2010 season. And the Pole became a clear favourite for this title when she threw a world record in Bydgoszcz in June. She was the European leader coming here by more than two metres.

But she hasn’t thrown since setting that record nearly two months ago and made a late decision to travel here.

For her part, Lysenko, the previous world record holder, was the defending champion and keen to put two missed years behind her by becoming the first woman to retain this title.

Yet, the Russian had to settle for silver with a best of 75.65, and Wlodarczyk the bronze, her best of 73.56 almost five metres short of her world record mark.

“I am a bit upset I didn’t defend my title,” said Lysenko. “But I really fought hard and a silver is not too bad at all.”

Lysenko’s opener brought back memories of four years ago. The Russian started with 74.63 not far short of the championships record she produced in the first round in 2006 when she went on to dominate, extending that record by another couple of metres. It wasn’t going to be that easy this time.

Wlodarczyk looked nervous throughout the event as she prowled the area, bending and twitching while she waited to take her throws. She moved into second briefly with 73.05 while Bianca Perie of Romania was third at the end of the first round, another three metres short of the Pole.

At this stage Heidler was fourth with 69.68 but she opened up in the second round to take the lead with 75.92, heaping the pressure on her rivals. Wlodarczyk and Perie improved too but still short of Lysenko’s first round effort to stay in third and fourth respectively.

No one improved in the third round and at the half way point it was clear the world record holder was struggling to find her range. Perhaps the pressure of expectations was getting to her as she could be seen puffing out her cheeks and hugging her knees.

The taller, slimmer Lysenko also looked pensive while Heidler lay calmly by her kit bag.

Only Lysenko of the three principles improved in round four, with 75.65, closing in on Heidler but still second best. Wlodarczyk seemed unbalanced as she threw 72.65. She kept jogging up and down on the spot, as if trying to summon some energy though none was coming.

Only Heidler seemed able to find some spark as she responded to Lysenko’s move with 76.38 in the fourth round – only the Russian has ever thrown better at a European championships.

And that was it. The final round fizzled out as Perie and Lysenko fouled and Wlodarczyk threw 73.56 – her best of the competition but a big disappointment.

“I am grateful just to compete,” she said. “It was a last minute decision to travel to Barcelona and I can only be satisfied with a spot on the podium.”

The bigger satisfaction is Heidler’s, however.