Theo Hanlon – a European Shot Putt finalist
Theo Hanlon in competition at the U20 Europeans in Finland Photo: Eric Bellamy
An ideal combination of power, explosiveness, speed and agility on his feet, perfection of a revised throwing technique, and execution have elevated Ryan Crouser to undisputed ‘King’ of the shot-put world.
“His world record of 23.56m is impressive,” said Theo Hanlon, the Suncroft AC athlete who is a recent European u20 Shot Putt finalist.
It is not Crouser that we came to chat about it was Hanlon himself. The modest Kildare man has had a fantastic year, in a sport that can often be as unforgiving as it is joyous, rewarding as it is disappointing. Hanlon has had his share of them all.
With a personal best of 18.04m, an Irish U19 championship record, the Irish senior schools, U19 and U20 shot putt champion, double Leinster record holder and to top it off a finalist at the European U20 championships. 2025 was certainly a good year.
It was June 2024 close to the closing date for the qualification for the European U18 Championships. Hanlon was in Sweden for what he hoped would be his final qualification competition. His throwing had improved, and he felt he could make the Europeans. Sweden was a golden opportunity. However, it was not to be. A throw of 17.72m, left him a tantalising 3cm short of the standard. He was gutted.
“I really thought I could do the standard that day”, said Hanlon. “I thought the same a week later when I competed in the Scottish Championships.”
He did win those Scottish National Championships with a throw of 17.66m – 9cm short of what he needed. His quest for qualification was over.
While the European U18s were in progress in Slovakia, he threw a magnificent throw of 18.37m – a personal best, at the Welsh Championships. Four out of his six throws were in excess of that European standard. The irony being of course it all came two weeks too late. What happened?
“It is simple really”, said Hanlon, “I kept worrying about getting the standard and it got to me. I felt I should have been at the Euro’s. I would have made the final. What made a difference in Wales was I just focused on what I had to do that day”.
Despite the personal best, he left Wales disappointed and exasperated with his season.
After a short break Hanlon resumed training for the winter. Mostly working on drills, getting things nailed down. Alternating between indoor throwing, weights and then a weekly visit to his coach Peter Collins in Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath. He has been working with Collins since he finished 3rd in the U12 shot putt back in 2018. A training camp in Portugal the first week of January was a welcome reprieve from the doldrums of an Irish winter.
Collins along with his other two athletes; Laois Shot Putter Andrew Cooper and the 2024 European U18 Discus bronze medallist Cian Crampton (a cousin of Hanlon’s) headed to Monte Gordo. It was a week of being a professional athlete, with a routine that amounted to sleeping, eating, training and little else. Training twice per day.
“I started to feel good. I was throwing a lot better and getting more confident."
Hanlon was also getting used to the heavier shot, a 6kg which was the U20 weight.
Shortly after his return from Portugal he threw 16.94m in Sweden to anchor his 2025 season. He then went on to win the Leinster U19 Championships with a new Leinster record of 17.37m. All six of his throws surpassing the old mark. This followed with wins in both the U19 and U20 All-Irelands.
In his first outdoor competition of the year at the Irish Milers Meet in Clonmel, Hanlon threw 17.96m - a B standard for the European U20 Championships.
“I couldn’t believe I threw so well.”
Hanlon was learning from his 2024 experiences. “I just needed to keep doing what I was doing and not let competition and standards worry me,” he said.
For the remainder of the season, he was chasing that second B standard of 17.85m, required for the Irish selection. He won the Leinster and All-Ireland schools. This was followed with new championship records in the Leinster u20s and u19s, punctuated by international competitions in the UK and Germany. The second B standard however, remained elusive.
“I was throwing between 17.50 and 17.70m, the problem was I was going out too fast at the back of the circle and throwing into the putt too hard,” said Hanlon.
Collins was there at his competitions, observing each throw, all the time, masterminding the next session, where those fixes would happen.
Working over and over on technique Hanlon was ready to throw again. But it was getting late, and he was getting nervous that it was going to be a repeat of 2024 all over again. His last opportunity was the Dublin Graded Meet in Lucan, just days before the closing date for qualification.
“The mindset in the competition is to think about nothing and throw. You have the work done. As an athlete, you will get frustrated on the day if you over think things.”
Hanlon certainly had things in order for that final competition. He threw a magnificent 18.04m, a personal best and more importantly 19cm more than the standard. He had qualified for the European U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland.
What was his reaction? Like most athletes the first thing they do, is head straight over to their coach, the person who has been instrumental in getting them to that moment.
“I just hugged Peter. In fact, I nearly pulled him over the barrier in Lucan,” he laughed.
For the next few weeks, the focus was on holding his form.
“We did some good gym sessions over the next few weeks and kept the technique work going with shorter sessions the week of the Europeans themselves, with just a few full throws in each throwing session.”
Hanlon’s mother has been ferrying him to and from Competitions and Training and very supportive of his athletics. She has been there at every competition, including Finland, where his father also came to lend his support.
“That was a big thing for my mother to go to Finland as she hates flying.”
Collins and his wife were there too – his other athlete Cian Crampton was competing in the Discus.
“I was so nervous the day of the competition. More than I had imagined. Walking into the stand and looking around, it was like a dream. Everything so well placed.”
The Kildare man’s warm up felt good.
“The first throw was just to settle myself in. The second throw was getting more into the competition.”
Athletes in the preliminary round only get three throws from which they need to secure qualification for the final.
“I needed to go for it on the third throw or my journey would be cut short.”
Go for it he did as he threw 18.00m, his second-best throw ever. He went into the final ranked ninth.
The following day was the final. There was Jarno Van Daalan, the Dutchman and reigning World U20 Champion. Tall and confident, he was aiming for a shot and discus double at these Europeans. Facing him in the shot putt was the local Finnish hero Aatu Kangasniemi. Hanlon with one year left in the U20 age group knew it was unrealistic to expect to beat these guys. He was happy to be in the final and would be over the moon with a top eight finish.
He made one big mistake in the final that Hanlon reckons cost him that eighth place finish and a probable 18.08m. Not having his own shot with him he had to use the competition shot. The 110mm he had used for the preliminary round was not available. He took two warm-up throws with the brass 110mm. Not liking it he decided to throw with the 115mm shot putt. A mistake that cost him dearly as the shot was a little too big for his hands. It bent his finger back and he had to tape his finger to get a proper flick on the ball. It was the wrong choice.
“I felt stupid for changing things the day of the competition,” he said in hindsight.
He came away from the U20 European Championships as a finalist with his second best ever throw of 18.00m – he can be happy and proud of that.
For now, he will take a break for just over a month and play Gaelic Football with Nurney in the Kildare Intermediate Football Championship. Beyond that time, he will face a tough winter with the aim of building up for qualification for the World U20 Championships which will be held in Eugene, Oregon next year. Then of course there is the small matter of the Leaving Cert to contend with. Hanlon will need to balance his study and his training. But Oregon 2026 remains very much his focus – we are looking forward to seeing Theo Hanlon of Suncroft in action again next year.
