Elina Tzengko emerged as one of the most successful young athletes in European athletics through a remarkable progression in the javelin throw from the U18 category to the senior international stage. In 2018 she won the gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. In 2020, at only 17 years old, she produced a throw of 63.96m with the senior women’s javelin during the Greek U20 Championships, a performance that surpassed the World U20 Record level.

Tzengo continued her rise in 2021 by winning the European U20 title and earning silver at the World U20 Championships in Nairobi. Her international breakthrough came in 2022 when, still only 19 years old, she became European Champion in Munich with a personal best of 65.81m. With that victory, she became the youngest athlete ever to win the European javelin title and the youngest Greek European champion in athletics history. Later that year she was named the European Athletics Female Rising Star, while in 2025 she claimed victory in her first Diamond League final, confirming her status among the world’s elite javelin throwers.