Meet European Athletics \’Legends of the Cup\‘ – Part 2 – European Athletics (EAA) . NEWS

To celebrate the final edition of the SPAR European Cup, European Athletics is proud to announce the attendance of some very special guests in Annecy.

Each of the 10 competing countries has invited one athlete to be their 'Legend of the Cup' and have the great honour of carrying their countries flag at the opening ceremony of the SPAR European Cup 2008.  These legends range from retired Olympic and European Champions, to former athletes now devoted to coaching the stars of the future, to still active athletes – what they all have in common is a strong connection to the SPAR European Cup.

Today we have the great pleasure of introducing our next three legends…

Russia – Yuliya Gushchina
 
Yuliya Gushchina is one of the most successful female sprinters of the modern era representing Russia with distinction over the past few years.

A relay medallist as far back as the IAAF World Junior Championships in 2002, Gushchina has scaled the heights at senior level winning a silver medal over 200m at the European Athletics Championships in 2006 along with relay gold.
 
She has competed in the European Cup on 4 occasions.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland – Jonathan Edwards
 
Although he will always be remembered for his current World Triple Jump record of 18.29m, which he set at the World Championships in 1995, French athletics fans in particular will never forget that he made his made an even bigger breakthrough at the SPAR European Cup in Villeneuve d'Ascq, where he leapt to a wind assisted 18.43m, still the furthest jump in history!
 
Edwards had an outstanding career as an athlete winning gold medals at the Olympics in 2000, the World Championships in 1995 & 2001, the Commonwealth Games in 2002, the European Championships in 1998 along with an impressive six European Cup titles.
 
Altogether he represented Britain at the SPAR European Cup on 9 occasions, winning on 6 of them.
 
He is currently a serving member of the European Athletics Council and a BBC commentator this weekend.

Click here to read more about Jonathan Edward's memories of the SPAR European Cup.
 
Greece – Konstandínos Gatsioúdis
 
Konstandínos Gatsioúdis is one of the most celebrated Greek athletes in history being one of the few men in history to throw the Javelin over 90m.
 
 In 1997 in front of his home crowd in Athens, Gatsioúdis won the bronze medal and he went one better to win silver two years later in Seville to go along with his many other achievements.
 
He has competed in the SPAR European Cup on four occasions always finishing in the top three and winning on his final attempt in 2001.

European Athletics (EAA)