Well, hello sports fans! Greetings from Wisconsin. As Stuart Weir covers the 2026 European Athletics Outdoor Championships on-site from Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, England, yours truly is in the #Larrenhalle in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, in our farmhouse, built in 1905 and moved to Fort Atkinson in 1948. It is early in the morning; I begin watching the EAC at 4:30 AM most days (tomorrow it is 1:30 AM). It is quiet until about six am in Fort Atkinson, as a neighbor begins cutting their grass or doing yard work, enjoying the day’s quiet and coolness. Most mornings, our Bengal cats, Smokey and Bandit, are visiting me, asking for breakfast. This morning, however, they are fast asleep, cuddled on our bed with Kathy as she finishes a proper night of sleep.
Here are my observations about day 3 of the European Champs:
- Fantastic coverage of the European Champs, much better than most of what we see in the U.S. I believe that the big reason, well, one of the big reasons why track and field is not at the level it should be in the US is due to the mediocre presentation of our sport. EAC coverage, by Hannah England, Adam Setleff, Tim Hutchings and Phil Minshull, is excellent. Thoughtful, informed, relaxed, and with both opinions and informed authority, the EAC team, along with the brilliant drone shots and filming, is a key reason why EAC viewing in North America is growing by Leaps and bounds.
- Women’s Hammer Gold for Finland! So much of doing well in a championship is delivering a strong performance on the right day at the right time. Silja Kosonen, FIN, is a great example of the aforementioned notion. Silja delivered a fine 76.28-meter hammer throw, taking the gold. Sara Fantini, ITA, added a silver medal to Team Italy with her 74.35-meter throw. Beatrice Nedberge Llano, NOR, took the bronze in 72.88 meters. And WR holder Anita Wlodarczyk, four-time European Champion, who competed in Birmingham 2026 as her 7th European champs, just missed bronze, throwing 72.37 meters, finishing in fourth. Anita deserves the respect of the entire field, as she has championed the women’s hammer throw for many years. Nicola Tuthill, IRE, was fifth, and Charlotte Payne, GB, was sixth.
- The men’s 400 meters was exciting as a local man delivered! You can go home if you are Matthew Hudson-Smith. Hudson-Smith ran the race from lane nine, as he had let up in the semi-finals. Prior to Birmingham, Matthew Hudson-Smith had an Olympic silver medal from Paris 2024 and two golds at the European Championships. Running 44.17, Matthew Hudson-Smith came off the final turn in the lead and held on! Muhammed Abdallah Kounta, FRA, took silver in 44.40 and Jonas Phijffers, NED, in 44.41 for the bronze. Anything can happen in the 400 meters, one of the sport’s most difficult disciplines, and MHS delivered on the right day and at the right time! In front of his home crowd and on a track he ran on as a child.
- Emma Zapletalova wins gold for Slovakia at 400m hurdles! Emma Zapletalova, SVK, has had a superb 2026, breaking 400m hurdles NR twice (9th time, taking NR from 56.19 to 52.58 over six years!) and one time over 400m flat, her seventh NR at 400m, now at 50.59! In the European final, Emma took the lead and ran a strong 400m hurdles, winning in 52.91. Emily Newnham, GB, took the silver in 53.33 and Fatoumate Binta Diallo, POR, was bronze in 53.55. The 400m hurdles are the most challenging event in our sport, with the speed of the 400 m flat and ten hurdles. It is an event developed by a sadist, and athletes who embrace the pain and can remember to focus do well! Congrats, Emma!
- Men’s 110m hurdles. Always a crowd favorite, the 110m hurdles is such a technical event. Off a tiny bit and the part is over. Jason Joseph, the Swiss star, went to another level, taking control by the 4th hurdle and running away, and took gold in 13.12. Just Kwaou-Mathey, FRA, took the silver in 13.16. Kwaou-Mathey had run so well in the prelims and semi-final; many thought he could have won the race. Jakub Szymanski, POL, was bronze in 13.26. It was a physical race; Joseph reminds me of Roger Kingdom, who would barrel through hurdles. Jason Joseph should be the next European under 13 seconds for the 110m hurdles.
