European Athletics 2026: The long road to gold

The European Athletics Championships 2026 in Birmingham kick off this Monday, with German athletes aiming for medals, possibly even gold. Among them, long jumper Malaika Mihambo faces the challenge of defending her title. She currently holds the second-best result among European competitors, having achieved a season best of 7.05 meters during a Diamond League meeting in London earlier this month. The Italian athlete Larissa Iapichino leads with a jump of 7.12 meters, but Mihambo must maintain control over her approach to secure another victory. Her season has been marked by several invalid attempts, and success hinges on hitting the board cleanly. Yemisi Mabry, the Olympic gold medalist from Paris two years ago, seeks to repeat her triumph in Birmingham. Her best performance this season came indoors, measuring 20.37 meters, though she hasn’t surpassed that mark outdoors yet. To contend for a medal, she must improve upon her outdoor results, facing stiff competition from Dutch athlete Jessica Schilder, who is considered one of the top contenders in the field. Gina Lückenkemper and Gesa Krause also carry hopes of success. Krause, a hurdler, has returned to form after seven years, achieving a time of 9:07.50 minutes, which placed her eighth in the world rankings. However, she faces strong competition from fellow German Lea Mayer, who ranks ninth. Lückenkemper, meanwhile, has struggled due to a tick bite that disrupted her preparation for the 2022 European Championships, allowing younger talent Jolina Ernst to surpass her in national competitions. Despite these challenges, the 4x100-meter relay team remains a major contender for gold. Leo Neugebauer, the reigning World Champion in decathlon, is expected to compete for gold. At 26, he set a new German record of 8,961 points just two years ago. This season, he narrowly missed out on topping the standings, losing only to Swiss competitor Simon Ehammer, who will not be competing in Birmingham. While all eyes are on Neugebauer, Niklas Kaul, the 2022 European champion, is also in excellent shape and could play a key role in Germany’s medal prospects. Emil Agyekum, the 400-meter hurdles specialist, recently broke a 44-year-old German record previously held by Harald Schmid. His achievement comes amid a season where only superstars like Karsten Warholm have performed better in Europe. Agyekum's potential for a medal is high, especially given his recent form. Meanwhile, Owen Ansah, the first German to run under ten seconds in the 100-meter sprint, dreams of adding another accolade to his resume. However, he faces the risk of a multi-year ban due to allegations of refusing a doping test. Frederik Ruppert, the 29-year-old who became the first European to complete the 3,000-meter hurdles in under eight minutes, is another standout in Germany’s squad. His historic achievement positions him as a serious contender for gold in Birmingham. With such a strong lineup of athletes, Germany stands a solid chance of making its mark at the championships, showcasing both individual brilliance and collective strength.