Emmanuel Karalis Qualifies for the Final in European Indoor Pole Vault Championship

Emmanuel Karalis has lived up to expectations and secured his place in the final of the pole vault at the European Indoor Championships. The Greek athlete is set to compete for his first career gold medal on Sunday, March 9, 2025, as he enters the competition as a strong favorite. With major rival Mondo Duplantis absent from the Netherlands event, Karalis finds himself in prime position. Demonstrating exceptional form, Karalis strategically chose to bypass heights of 5.25m and 5.65m, starting his attempts at 5.65m. He cleared both this height and 5.75m on his first try. His impressive performance left many competitors behind, with only a few managing to clear these heights. Meanwhile, Turkish rival Ersu Sasmaz, who achieved 5.90m earlier this year, was eliminated. A total of 11 athletes qualified for the final. Another Greek participant, Giannis Rizos, managed to clear 5.45m but fell short at 5.65m, finishing in 15th place.