European Athletics Championships

International athletics tournament From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The European Athletics Championships is a biennial (from 2010) athletics event organised by the European Athletic Association and is recognised as the elite continental outdoor athletics championships for Europe.[1]

‹ The template Infobox recurring event is being considered for merging. ›
Statusactive
Genresports event
Frequencybiennial
Locationvarious
Quick facts Status, Genre ...
European Athletics Championships
Statusactive
Genresports event
Frequencybiennial
Locationvarious
Inaugurated1934
Most recent
2024
Organised byEuropean Athletic Association
Websiteeuropean-athletics.com
2026
Close

Editions

First held, for men only, in 1934 in Turin, and separately for women for the first time in Vienna in 1938, the Championships took place every four years following the end of the World War II, with the exception of the 1969 and 1971 editions, becoming a joint men's and women's competition from the third edition in 1946 in Oslo. Since 2010, they have been organised every two years, and when they coincide with the Summer Olympics, the marathon and racewalking events are not contested. From 2016, a half-marathon event has been held in those Olympic years, and both the marathon and half-marathon events held as part of the Championships also function as the principle European elite team events at those distances.

The championships were long dominated by Eastern Bloc countries, especially the Soviet Union and East Germany, but Great Britain now tops the all-time medal table.

In 2018 and 2022, the European Athletics Championships formed part of the quadrennial multi-sport European Championships, a new event designed and held by individual European sports federations. In 2022, European Athletics announced its intention to withdraw from the multi-sport event for 2026.[2][3]

The 2020 edition set for Charlety Stadium in Paris was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making this the first cancellation of the event since the 1942 championship was abandoned due to World War II. The event was not moved to an alternative date, with Munich continuing as the scheduled host in 2022.[4][5][6]

An indoor equivalent, the European Athletics Indoor Championships, is organised by the European Athletic Association in odd numbered years.

While the European Games of 2015 featured athletics, as did the Games in 2023, these events are not editions of the European Athletics Championships. Instead, from 2023, the European Games athletics program consists of alternating editions of the biennial European Athletics Team Championships, a national team championships also arranged by European Athletics which includes European Games medals for individuals.

Notes: ♂ – men, ♀ – women

More information Edition, Year ...
Edition Year Host city Host country Date Venue Events Nations Athletes Top of the medal table
11934 ♂Turin Italy7–9 SeptemberStadio Benito Mussolini2223226 Germany
21938 ♂Paris France3–5 SeptemberStade Olympique de Colombes2323272 Germany
1938 ♀Vienna Germany[nb 1]17–18 SeptemberPraterstadion91480  Germany
31946Oslo Norway22–25 AugustBislett Stadium3320353 Sweden
41950Brussels Belgium23–27 AugustHeysel Stadium3424454United Kingdom Great Britain
51954Bern  Switzerland25–29 AugustStadion Neufeld3528686 Soviet Union
61958Stockholm Sweden19–24 AugustStockholm Olympic Stadium3626626 Soviet Union
71962Belgrade Yugoslavia12–16 SeptemberStadion JNA3629670 Soviet Union
81966Budapest Hungary30 August – 4 SeptemberNépstadion3630769 East Germany
91969Piraeus Greece16–21 SeptemberKaraiskakis Stadium3830674 East Germany
101971Helsinki Finland10–15 AugustOlympiastadion3829857 East Germany
111974Rome Italy2–8 SeptemberStadio Olimpico3929745 East Germany
121978Prague Czechoslovakia29 August – 3 SeptemberStadion Evžena Rošického40291004 Soviet Union
131982Athens Greece6–12 SeptemberOlympiakó Stàdio4129756 East Germany
141986Stuttgart West Germany26–31 AugustNeckarstadion4331906 Soviet Union
151990Split Yugoslavia26 August – 2 SeptemberStadion Poljud4333952 East Germany
161994Helsinki Finland7–14 AugustOlympiastadion44441113 Russia
171998Budapest Hungary18–23 AugustNépstadion46441259United Kingdom Great Britain
182002Munich Germany6–11 AugustOlympiastadion46481244 Russia
192006Gothenburg Sweden7–13 AugustUllevi47481288 Russia
202010Barcelona Spain27 July – 1 AugustEstadi Olímpic Lluís Companys47501323 France
212012Helsinki Finland27 June – 1 JulyOlympiastadion42501230 Germany
222014Zürich  Switzerland12–17 AugustLetzigrund47501439United Kingdom Great Britain
232016Amsterdam Netherlands6–10 JulyOlympic Stadium44501329 Poland
242018 [a]Berlin Germany7–12 AugustOlympiastadion4849[b]1439United Kingdom Great Britain
—2020Paris France26–30 AugustStade Sébastien CharlétyCancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
252022 [c]Munich Germany15–21 AugustOlympiastadion48481495United Kingdom Great Britain
262024Rome Italy7–12 JuneStadio Olimpico47481559 Italy
272026Birmingham[7] Great Britain10–16 August[8]Alexander Stadium
282028Chorzów[9] Poland3-8 JuneStadion Śląski
Close

All-time medal table

Updated after Day 6 of the 2026 European Athletics Championships.[10][11]

Former countries are pointed in italic. Team medals in half marathon and marathon are not included into this table (see European Half Marathon Cup and European Marathon Cup).

More information Rank, Nation ...
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1United Kingdom Great Britain133103112348
2 Soviet Union120110101331
3 East Germany908366239
4 Germany747773224
5 France737777227
6 Italy615764182
7 Poland596568192
8 Russia495051150
9 West Germany364451131
10 Finland363042108
11 Spain363040106
12 Netherlands36303399
13 Sweden334542120
14 Ukraine24302680
15 Norway23172262
16 Hungary19242467
17 Greece17101138
18 Czechoslovakia16162759
19 Belgium16161547
20 Portugal16161143
21 Switzerland14191952
22 Bulgaria12161442
23 Turkey12101032
24 Belarus10131235
25 Croatia94316
26 Romania8221040
27 Czech Republic8141335
28 Ireland710825
29 Yugoslavia66315
30 Denmark47415
31 Estonia46515
32 Latvia43411
33 Slovenia4239
34 Lithuania34613
35 Austria32611
36 Israel3249
37 Iceland3115
38 Serbia28313
39 Slovakia2518
– Authorised Neutral Athletes[1]1326
40 Albania1102
41 Azerbaijan0224
42 Montenegro0112
43 Luxembourg0101
44 Moldova0011
Totals (44 entries)1,0871,0921,0913,270
Close
  • ^[1] ANA was the name, under which Russian athletes competed in the 2016 and 2018 Championships. Their medals were not included in the official medal table.

As of 2024, Andorra, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Georgia, Gibraltar, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, North Macedonia and San Marino have yet to win a medal. Saar competed once in 1954 European Athletics Championships without winning a medal. FR Yugoslavia competed twice in 1998 and 2002 European Athletics Championships, also without winning a medal.

Championship records

Main article: List of European Athletics Championships records

Multiple winners

Boldface denotes active athletes and highest medal count among all athletes (including these who not included in these tables) per type.

Sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, discus thrower Sandra Elkasević (Perković) of Croatia and middle-distance runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway share the record for most gold medals at seven.

Men

More information Rank, Athlete ...
Rank Athlete Country Events From To Gold Silver Bronze Total
1Jakob Ingebrigtsen Norway1500 m / 5000 m201820267––7
2 Matthew Hudson-SmithUnited Kingdom Great Britain400 m / 4 × 400 m relay201420265218
3 Zharnel HughesUnited Kingdom Great Britain100 m / 200 m / 4 × 100 m relay2018202652–7
4Roger BlackUnited Kingdom Great Britain400 m / 4 × 400 m relay1986199451–6
Mo FarahUnited Kingdom Great Britain5000 m / 10,000 m2006201451–6
Harald Schmid West Germany400 m hurdles / 4 × 400 m relay1978198651–6
7Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad France3000 m steeplechase / 1500 m201020185––5
Karsten Warholm  Norway 400 m hurdles / 4 × 400 m mixed relay 2018 2026 5 – – 5
9Christophe Lemaitre France100 m / 200 m / 4 × 100 m relay201020144228
10Kevin Borlée Belgium400 m / 4 × 400 m relay201020224217
Close

Women

More information Rank, Athlete ...
Rank Athlete Country Events From To Gold Silver Bronze Total
1Dina Asher-SmithUnited Kingdom Great Britain100 m / 200 m / 4 × 100 m relay2016202672110
2Sandra Elkasević (Perković) CroatiaDiscus throw201020247––7
3Marita Koch East Germany400 m / 4 × 400 m relay197819866––6
4Irena Szewińska (Kirszenstein) Poland100 m / 200 m / 400 m / 4 × 100 m relay /
4 × 400 m relay / Long jump		1966197851410
5Fanny Blankers-Koen Netherlands100 m / 200 m / 80 m hurdles / 4 × 100 m relay193819505128
6Marlies Göhr East Germany100 m / 200 m / 4 × 100 m relay197819865117
7Grit Breuer East Germany
 Germany		400 m / 4 × 400 m relay1990200251–6
Heike Drechsler East Germany
 Germany		200 m / Long jump1986199851–6
9Femke Broeders-Bol Netherlands400 m / 800 m / 400 m hurdles / 4 × 400 m relay /
4 × 400 m mixed relay		202220265–27
10Renate Stecher (Meissner) East Germany100 m / 200 m / 4 × 100 m relay1969197444–8
Close

Multiple medallists

See also: List of European Athletics Championships medalists (men) and List of European Athletics Championships medalists (women)

A total of 12 men and 16 women have won six or more medals at the competition.[10]

Men

More information Name, Country ...
Name Country Total Gold Silver Bronze Years
Christophe Lemaitre France84222010–2014
Jakob Ingebrigtsen Norway77002018–2026
Kevin Borlée Belgium74212010–2022
Matthew Hudson-SmithUnited Kingdom Great Britain85212014–2026
Roger BlackUnited Kingdom Great Britain65101986–1994
Mo FarahUnited Kingdom Great Britain65102006–2014
Harald Schmid West Germany65101978–1986
Pietro Mennea Italy63211971–1978
Martyn RooneyUnited Kingdom Great Britain63212010–2018
Jonathan Borlée Belgium6 *31 *22010–2022
Linford ChristieUnited Kingdom Great Britain63121986–1994
Jimmy Vicaut France6 *132 *2010–2022
Close

* including one medal in the relay event in which he participated in the heats only

Women

More information Name, Country ...
Name Country Total Gold Silver Bronze Years
Irena Szewińska (Kirszenstein) Poland105141966–1978
Dina Asher-SmithUnited Kingdom Great Britain107212016–2026
Fanny Blankers-Koen Netherlands85121938–1950
Renate Stecher (Meissner) East Germany84401969–1974
Dafne Schippers Netherlands84312012–2018
Sandra Elkasević (Perković) Croatia77002010–2024
Marlies Göhr East Germany75111978–1986
Femke Bol Netherlands75022022–2024
Myriam Soumaré France71332010–2014
Marita Koch East Germany66001978–1986
Grit Breuer East Germany
 Germany		65101990–2002
Heike Drechsler East Germany
 Germany		65101986–1998
Anita Włodarczyk Poland64112010–2024
Irina Privalova Russia63211994–1998
Yevgeniya Sechenova Soviet Union62221946–1950
Gina Lückenkemper Germany62132016–2022
Close

Most medals in the same event

A total of 23 men and 13 women have won four or more medals in the same event.[10] Sandra Elkasević (Perković) of Croatia is the only athlete, male or female, to win the same event (the women's discus throw) seven times (between 2010 and 2024). Only one athlete of each sex, Matt Hudson-Smith and Dina Asher-Smith, have won four medals in two different events, in his case the 400 metres and the 4 x 400 metres relay, in hers the 200 metres and the 4 x 100 metres relay.

Men

More information No, G/S/B ...
No G/S/B Athlete Country Years Event
5(3/2/0)Igor Ter-Ovanesyan Soviet Union1958–1971Long jump
5*(3/1*/1)Jonathan Borlée Belgium2010–20224 × 400 m relay
5(3/1/1)Kevin Borlée Belgium2010–20224 × 400 m relay
4(4/0/0)Steve BackleyUnited Kingdom Great Britain1990–2002Javelin throw
4(4/0/0)Colin JacksonUnited Kingdom Great Britain1990–2002110 m hurdles
4(4/0/0)Jakob Ingebrigtsen Norway2018–20265000 m
4(4/0/0)Jānis Lūsis Soviet Union1962–1974Javelin throw
4(4/0/0)Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad France2010–20183000 m steeplechase
4 (4/0/0) Miltiadis Tentoglou  Greece 2018–2026 Long jump
4 (4/0/0) Karsten Warholm  Norway 2018–2026 400 m hurdles
4(3/1/0)Dylan Borlée Belgium2016–20244 × 400 m relay
4(3/1/0)Mo FarahUnited Kingdom Great Britain2006–20145000 m
4 (3/1/0) Matthew Hudson-Smith United Kingdom Great Britain 2014–2026 400 m
4(3/0/1)Adam Kszczot Poland2010–2018800 m
4(3/0/1)Renaud Lavillenie France2010–2018Pole vault
4(3/0/1)Wojciech Nowicki Poland2016–2024Hammer throw
4(3/0/1)David Storl Germany2010–2018Shot put
4(2/2/0)Viktor Saneyev Soviet Union1969–1978Triple jump
4(2/1/1)Matthew Hudson-SmithUnited Kingdom Great Britain2014–20224 × 400 m relay
4*(1/2/1*)Jimmy Vicaut France2010–20224 × 100 m relay
4 (1/2/1) Bence Halász  Hungary 2018–2026 Hammer throw
4(0/3/1)Gerd Kanter Estonia2006–2016Discus throw
4(0/2/2)Alexander Kosenkow Germany2002–20144 × 100 m relay
4(0/1/3)Lothar Milde East Germany1962–1971Discus throw
Close

* including one medal in the relay event in which he participated in the heats only

Women

More information No, G/S/B ...
No G/S/B Athlete Country Years Event
7(7/0/0)Sandra Elkasević (Perković) Croatia2010–2024Discus throw
6(4/1/1)Anita Włodarczyk Poland2010–2024Hammer throw
5(3/1/1)Gesa Felicitas Krause Germany2012–20263000 m steeplechase
5(2/3/0)Katerina Stefanidi Greece2014–2024Pole vault
4(4/0/0)Nadezhda Chizhova Soviet Union1966–1974Shot put
4(4/0/0)Heike Drechsler East Germany
 Germany		1986–2002Long jump
4*(3*/1/0)Asha PhilipUnited Kingdom Great Britain2014–20244 × 100 m relay
4 (3/1/0) Dina Asher-Smith United Kingdom Great Britain 2016–2026 4 × 100 m relay
4(3/0/1)Nafissatou Thiam Belgium2014–2024Heptathlon
4(2/1/1)Malaika Mihambo Germany2016–2024Long jump
4 (2/1/1) Dina Asher-Smith United Kingdom Great Britain 2016–2026 200 m
4(1/3/0)Floria Gueï France2012–20184 × 400 m relay
4(1/1/2)Barbora Špotáková Czech Republic2010–2022Javelin throw
4(1/1/2)Linda Stahl Germany2010–2016Javelin throw
4 (0/1/3) Shanice Craft  Germany 2014–2026 Discus throw
Close

* including one medal in the relay event in which she participated in the heats only

Most appearances

A total of 50 men and 44 women have at least 6 appearances.[10]

Men

More information No, Name ...
No Name Country Years Events
7Jesús Ángel García Spain1994–201850 km walk
Zoltán Kővágó * Hungary1998–2018Discus throw
Jesús España Spain2002–20185000 m / Half marathon / Marathon
Gerd Kanter Estonia2002–2018Discus throw
Marian Oprea Romania2002–2018Triple jump
David Söderberg Finland2002–2018Hammer throw
Daniele Meucci Italy2006–20245000 m / 10,000 m / Half marathon / Marathon
Eivind Henriksen Norway2010–2024Hammer throw
Asmir Kolašinac Serbia2010–2024Shot put
Apostolos Parellis Cyprus2010–2024Discus throw
Dimitrios Tsiamis Greece2010–2024Triple jump
Andreas Vojta Austria2010–20241500 m / 5000 m / 10,000 m / Half marathon
6Abdon Pamich Italy1954–197120 km walk / 50 km walk
Ludvík Daněk Czechoslovakia1962–1978Discus throw
Nenad Stekić Yugoslavia1969–1990Long jump
Virgilijus Alekna Lithuania1994–2014Discus throw
Dwain Chambers *United Kingdom Great Britain1998–2014100 m / 4 × 100 m relay
Serhiy Lebid Ukraine1998–20145000 m / 10,000 m
Nicola Vizzoni Italy1998–2014Hammer throw
Szymon Ziółkowski Poland1998–2014Hammer throw
João Vieira Portugal1998–201820 km walk / 50 km walk
Gregory Sedoc Netherlands2002–2016110 m hurdles
Johan Wissman Sweden2002–2016200 m / 400 m / 4 × 100 m relay
Hamza Alić Bosnia and Herzegovina2002–2018Shot put
Fabrizio Donato Italy2002–2018Triple jump
Ángel David Rodríguez Spain2002–2018100 m / 4 × 100 m relay
Konstantinos Filippidis Greece2006–2018Pole vault
Kafétien Gomis France2006–2018Long jump
Mustafa Mohamed Sweden2006–20223000 m steeplechase / 10,000 m / Half marathon / Marathon
Jonathan Borlée Belgium2010–2022200 m / 400 m / 4 × 400 m relay
Kevin Borlée Belgium2010–2022400 m / 4 × 400 m relay
Javier Cienfuegos Spain2010–2022Hammer throw
Stefano La Rosa Italy2010–20225000 m / 10,000 m / Half marathon / Marathon
Renaud Lavillenie France2010–2022Pole vault
Andriy Protsenko Ukraine2010–2022High jump
Jimmy Vicaut France2010–2022100 m / 4 × 100 m relay
Eusebio Cáceres Spain2010–2024Long jump
Konstantinos Douvalidis Greece2010–2024110 m hurdles
Henrik Ingebrigtsen Norway2010–20241500 m / 5000 m
Marcel Lomnický Slovakia2010–2024Hammer throw
Tiidrek Nurme Estonia2010–20245000 m / Half marathon / Marathon
Tuomas Seppänen Finland2010–2024Hammer throw
Jakub Vadlejch Czech Republic2010–2024Javelin throw
Jan Veleba Czech Republic2010–2024100 m / 4 × 100 m relay
Polat Kemboi Arıkan Turkey2012–20245000 m / 10,000 m / Half marathon
Thomas Barr Ireland2012–2024400 m hurdles / 4 × 400 m relay / 4 × 400 m mixed relay
Andrius Gudžius Lithuania2012–2024Discus throw
Gianmarco Tamberi Italy2012–2024High jump
Robert Urbanek Poland2012–2024Discus throw
Vladimir Vukicevic Norway2012–2024110 m hurdles
Close

* including participation at one European Championships at which he was disqualified for a doping offence

Women

More information No, Name ...
No Name Country Years Events
8Mélina Robert-Michon France1998–2024Discus throw
Martina Ratej Slovenia2006–2024Javelin throw
7Krisztina Papp Hungary2002–20185000 m / 10,000 m / Half marathon
Martina Hrašnová Slovakia2002–2024Hammer throw
Dragana Tomašević Serbia2006–2022Discus throw
Sandra Elkasević (Perković) Croatia2010–2024Discus throw
6Helena Fibingerová Czechoslovakia1969–1986Shot put
Heike Drechsler (Daute) East Germany
 Germany		1982–2002Long jump / 200 m
Fernanda Ribeiro Portugal1986–20103000 m / 10,000 m / Marathon
Felicia Țilea-Moldovan * Romania1990–2010Javelin throw
Nuria Fernández Spain1998–2014800 m / 1500 m / 5000 m
Ruth Beitia Spain2002–2016High jump
Berta Castells Spain2002–2016Hammer throw
Merja Korpela Finland2002–2016Hammer throw
Dana Velďáková Slovakia2002–2016Triple jump
Inês Henriques Portugal2002–202220 km walk / 35 km walk / 50 km walk
Barbora Špotáková Czech Republic2002–2022Javelin throw
Ásdís Hjálmsdóttir Iceland2006–2018Javelin throw
Kathrin Klaas Germany2006–2018Hammer throw
Éva Orbán Hungary2006–2018Hammer throw
Olha Saladukha Ukraine2006–2018Triple jump
Patricia Sarrapio Spain2006–2018Triple jump
Fionnuala McCormack Ireland2006–20223000 m steeplechase / 10,000 m / Marathon
Patrícia Mamona Portugal2010–2022Triple jump
Sara Moreira Portugal2010–20225000 m / 10,000 m / Half marathon / Marathon
Madara Palameika Latvia2010–2022Javelin throw
Jamile Samuel Netherlands2010–2022100 m / 200 m / 4 × 100 m relay
Tina Šutej Slovenia2010–2022Pole vault
Ivana Vuleta (Španović) Serbia2010–2022Long jump
Bianca Ghelber (Perie) Romania2010–2024Hammer throw
Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal Norway2010–20243000 m steeplechase / 5000 m / 10,000 m / Half marathon
Airinė Palšytė Lithuania2010–2024High jump
Anna Ryzhykova (Yaroshchuk) Ukraine2010–2024400 m hurdles / 4 × 400 m relay
Anita Włodarczyk Poland2010–2024Hammer throw
Anne Zagré Belgium2010–2024100 m hurdles / 4 × 100 m relay
Iga Baumgart-Witan Poland2012–2024400 m / 4 × 400 m relay
Mirela Demireva Bulgaria2012–2024High jump
Luiza Gega Albania2012–20241500 m / 3000 m steeplechase
Mujinga Kambundji Switzerland2012–2024100 m / 200 m / 4 × 100 m relay
Line Kloster Norway2012–2024400 m / 400 m hurdles / 4 × 400 m relay
Līna Mūze Latvia2012–2024Javelin throw
Irina Rodrigues Portugal2012–2024Discus throw
Katerina Stefanidi Greece2012–2024Pole vault
Justyna Święty-Ersetic Poland2012–2024400 m / 4 × 400 m relay
Close

* including participation at one European Championships at which she was disqualified for a doping offence

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Part of the 2018 European Championships
  2. [b]
    Not including the ANA Athletes and the ART refugee athlete (DNS).
  3. [c]
    Part of the 2022 European Championships
  1. [1]
    Germany had annexed Austria in March 1938.

References

External links

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI