(L-R) Mujinga Kambundji, Switzerland; Zaynab Dosso, Italy; Patrizia van der Weken, Luxembourg;
Credit: FLA
On Sunday 9 March 2025, sprinter Patrizia van der Weken secured Luxembourg’s first-ever medal in the 60m event at the European Indoor Athletics Championships.
25-year-old Patrizia Van Der Weken arrived at the European Indoor Athletics Championships 2025 in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, holding the Luxembourg national record in the 60m sprint - 7.07 seconds - set in January at the CMCM Luxembourg Indoor Meeting at her home venue, the Coque (Luxembourg-Kirchberg).
From the preliminary heats, the Luxembourg sprinter made her intentions for a medal clear.
Van der Weken secured her spot in the semi-finals with the second-fastest time among all participants, clocking 7.11 seconds. Her performance surpassed that of the current champion, Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji (7.19), and the silver medallist from the previous championships, Poland’s Ewa Swoboda (7.14).
In the semi-finals, Patrizia van der Weken further improved her personal best and national record, sprinting 60 metres in 7.06 seconds. This result once again placed her second, with only Mujinga Kambundji running faster at 7.05 seconds. Heading into the final, the Luxembourg sprinter was among the favourites, earning lane three for the decisive race.
In the final, Patrizia van der Weken equalled her national record of 7.06 seconds, securing third place. The race was so close that the organisers had to rely on a photo finish to determine the bronze medallist. Ultimately, she edged out Ewa Swoboda of Poland, who was one-tenth of a second slower, ensuring that Luxembourg’s first-ever European Indoor Athletics Championships medal would be bronze.
The gold medal in the women’s 60m went to Italy’s Zaynab Dosso, who clocked 7.01 seconds, setting both the world’s fastest time this season and a new Italian national record. Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland finished second in 7.02 seconds.
Meanwhile, fellow Luxembourg athlete Vera Bertemes-Hoffmann, who was registered for the women’s 800m event, did not compete. As the Luxembourg Athletics Federation (Fédération Luxembourgeoise d'Athlétisme) informed Chronicle.lu, the 28-year-old athlete “has been sick with the flu and was not healed enough to participate.”
With Patrizia van der Weken’s result, Luxembourg’s national team made history by securing its first-ever medal at the European Indoor Athletics Championships.
IK
