Zane Weir, the Italian behemoth with South African blood, is the new European weight throw champion. A powerful shoulder that sent the seven-kilogram-plus ball soaring to 22.06 meters, a new Italian record and the best European performance of the year. Zane's gold is also Italian athletics' medal number 100 in 37 editions of the Euroindoors (since Vienna in 1970). In Istanbul, the final of the weight throw giants was crackling and exciting.

Weir in the fall ante coronavirus pandemic was in his South Africa when he wrote via the web to Italian coach Paolo Dal Soglio referring both to the desire to grow even more and recounted the Trieste origins of his maternal grandfather Mario. Premises that sparked Dal Soglio's interest.

Now this 190-centimeter-tall, 112-kilogram good giant, Italian since February 2021 and enlisted in the Fiamme Gialle, is on the roof of Europe after being away from the platforms for a long time following a right hand injury. In the final, Zane showcased his grit combined with the 'brute force' to make the ball fly as far as possible.

The Italian weightlifter in just a few minutes improved twice the Italian indoor weight record of which he was already the holder. Weir after jumping to the lead of the race with 21.89 meters, was shortly afterwards overtaken by Czech and defending champion Tomas Stanek with 21.90. The 27-year-old thrower, who grew up in Durban, did not want to leave the Turkish city's Atakoy Arena without the dreamed of gold medal. On the third throw his implement landed on the mats at 22.06 meters.