BIRMINGHAM 2026 DAY 1
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Coming from the lowest of lows to be European champion again means the world to me. Not even I believed it could happen coming here. Only with 600 meters to go, I knew I would win. I doubted myself every day coming into this and every minute leading up to the last lap today, but I’m always hoping to do my best. I’ve tried my best, and the last three weeks were very smooth,” Jakob Ingebrigtsen said.
RESULT OF THE DAY
Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s fourth consecutive title in the 5000m, in his first race since the World Championships in September 2025. With a 54.8 final lap.
SURPRISE OF THE DAY
Triple jumper Diana Ana Maria Ion, the European leader, was eliminated in qualification after three false attempts. World champion Mattia Furlani did not qualify due to injury. Jimmy Gressier, without a medal in the 5000 m, finished 4th.
MEDALS
NOR 2-0-0; NED 1-1-1; GBR and ITA 1-1-0
POINTS
NED and GBR 24; ITA 23; NOR 20; GER 16; POL 14; FRA 13
TITLE RETAINERS
Yes (3): Schilder, Ingebrigtsen, Fabbri
No (1): Asher-Smith
Not compering (1): IRL (mixed 4×400)
TOP MARKS
CR (1): 3:09.62 NOR
EL (1): 3:09.62 NOR
GOLD CROWN (current leaders after each day)
Sprints/Hurdles: Amy Hunt
Middle/Long Distances: Jakob Ingebrigtsen
Jumps: –
Throws: Jessica Schilder / Leonardo Fabbri
Road/CE/Relays: Norway
AGENTS (individual gold medals)
1 – Jos Hermens, Daniel Wessfeldt, Marcello Magnani, Federico Rosa.
DAY 2 PREVIEW (5 finals)
Expectations: Jacobs vs Britons in the 100m, battle of champions in the men’s long jump, and what is the shape of Battocletti and D.Kambundji? Who wins the hammer.
Winners prediction (by Athletics Weekly): Jacobs, Tentoglou, Battocletti, Visser, Fajdek
STATS (by Ken Nakamura)
100 m: Swaboda won second consecutive silver medal at Euro Champ 100m. 11.13 by Takacs is the fastest semi time of W100m Euro Champ that failed to qualify for the final. For the first time since 2014, the winning time is not below 11 seconds.
Shot put: 20.73 is the longest mark in Euro Champ in the 21st Century. All further throws are from 20th century. Schilder became only the second to win more than two Euro Champ SP with third gold. NED won medals like in Rome 24.
Women’s steeple: 9:37.27 by Hvid is the fastest time that failed to qualify for the final of Euro Champ 3000mSC.
SP: Fabbri became the sixth shot putter to win Euro Champ SP multiple times. First gold-silver for ITA in Euro SP, first medal for SWE in Euro SP.
5000 m: Ingebrigtsen ran the fifth-fastest time for Euro Champ 5000m. Only times from Stuttgart 1986 are faster. He also matched Mo Farah with total medal count in Euro Champ 5000. But he won fourth straight 5000m in Euro Champ, one more than Mo. Best marks for places from 5th to 9th at Euro Champ 5000m.
