‘ANOTHER step in the right direction’ – that’s how coach Killian Barry hailed Nicola Tuthill’s superb fifth-place finish at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

At 22, the Kilbrittain woman was the youngest athlete in the women’s hammer final, but again looked incredibly comfortable on the big stage.

Tuthill’s opening throw of 70.30 metres put her among the leading contenders in the early rounds, and she improved it to 70.33 metres in the fourth round to cement fifth place – her best-ever finish at a major championship as a senior athlete.

‘We went in knowing the challenge that was ahead with the form that a lot of the top names were in. Nicola went in ranked tenth, so I always sort of think success is trying to either match that or go beyond it,’ Barry told The Southern Star.

‘Fifth place was another example of Nicola just pushing the boundaries of her own potential. So, I think it was a great return on what was put in this year and just another step in the right direction.’

Nicola Tuthill finished fifth in Europe. (Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile)

From a ninth-place finish at the 2024 Europeans in Rome to 16th at the Paris Olympic Games that same summer, to coming 11th at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Tuthill is on an upward curve. Every year, she improves her personal best too, pushing it out to 72.73 metres this year.

The competitor in her always wants more, and while thrilled with her fifth place in Europe, Tuthill knows she wasn’t too far away from a medal either.

Finland’s Silja Kosonen claimed European gold with a huge 76.28m, with Italy’s Sara Fantini in silver (74.35m) and Norway’s Beatrice Nedberge Llano securing bronze with 72.88m, not too far ahead of Tuthill’s PB.

‘Obviously, fifth in Europe is insane. I think I was ranked about tenth coming in, so to be able to finish fifth is really, really special,’ Tuthill remarked.

‘But me being me, I’m looking at 72 metres for third and thinking about what might have been. Probably everyone in that field is thinking the same thing, but I’m delighted.’

With another major championship under her belt, and another encouraging performance, Barry is excited about the journey ahead.

In Birmingham, Tuthill finished just behind Poland’s Anita Włodarczyk, a three-time Olympic champion who is still going strong at 41.

‘I remember even a couple of years ago, I think it was 2019, Nicola had a photo with Anita, and she was in fifth year in Coláiste na Toirbhirte. You think now, fast-forward not that long of a time, and she’s pushing the best of all time to the very end of the Euros and competing against them all,’ Barry says.

‘I think the progression has been brilliant, year-on-year. She’s just pushing the dial, and it shows how, to make it to the top end of sport, there’s no shortcuts. It’s just really embracing the grind year in, year out, and constantly looking at what needs to be improved and what are the strengths, and constantly trying to push herself to get better.

‘Her continuous PBs over the years have just been excellent. When it comes to the chance now to review things and reflect on this year, I’ve no doubt we’re going to talk about a lot of things that she can continue to push on and continue to improve.

‘So, it’s just a never-ending journey, and she loves that. She embraces that, and she’s constantly looking to try and get those improvements and push on herself.’