Jessica Schilder will compete in shot put again in Hengelo

Three-time European shot put champion Jessica Schilder will be competing at the FBK Games in Hengelo. She returns to the shot put circle where, last year, she improved her own Dutch record to 20.33 meters. Currently, she is in the best shape of her life, as shown by her 20.69-meter throw during the recent indoor season — still the best performance in the world this year — and the 20.47 meters she achieved outdoors in late April.

Schilder (26) is really looking forward to competing in front of a home crowd on Whit Monday in Hengelo. “I’m still getting used to it, but it’s really special that people cheer so loudly when my name is announced in the stadium,” she said.

"Great to have Jessica back with us in Hengelo," says Ellen van Langen (meeting director of the FBK Games). "Jessica had a fantastic indoor season and has also started the outdoor season well at the two Chinese Diamond League meetings."

After her three gold medals at the European Championships, Schilder also won three medals at the last three World Indoor Championships. Recently, she became the first Dutch woman to win a Diamond League shot put event.

Coach Gert Damkat is, of course, pleased with Schilder’s progress. “Compared to last year, Jessica has especially improved technically. We now have a clearer understanding of what’s needed to throw more consistently over longer distances,” he said.

The FBK Games is the only international top-level athletics meet in the Netherlands and is part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold — a prestigious series of thirteen competitions spread across five continents. For more information about the FBK Games, visit www.fbkgames.nl.