Germany's Ralf Bartels won the first gold of the European Championships, snatching victory in the shot put with his final effort of 21.13 metres. Bartels, bronze medallist in Munich four years ago, took the title by two centimetres from former world champion Andrei Mikhnevich of Belarus.
Mikhnevich, who had led the competition from the second round, had to settle for silver with 21.11.
Denmark's Joachim Olsen took the bronze medal with an effort of 21.09.
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