Brilliant memories from the event and what they mean ahead of Birmingham 2026.
Spit from the sun
When Seb Coe, Tom McKean and Steve Cram turned the corner in the European 800m final in Stuttgart in 1986, they were memorably described as “Spitfires out of the sun”. As Coe chased his first international title within two laps, the picture epitomized British middle-distance dominance during that period.
Now, 40 years on, with Keeley Hodgkinson, Georgia Hunter Bell, Phoebe Gill and other Britons in the women’s 800m, could we see the same Brits in the 800m medals in Birmingham in 2026?
Mondo leaves its mark in 2018
Just 18, Mondo Duplantis improved his pole vault personal best by 12cm and tripled the under-20 world record to win gold at the 2018 European Championships in Berlin with a best distance of 6.05m.
He will be 26 in Birmingham in 2026 and is aiming for his fourth European outdoor title.
Daley Thompson is unbeatable in 1982
Daley Thompson not only won the title of European champion in Athens in 1982, but also the British decathlete set a world record. Thompson scored 8,774 points to beat his major rival, Jürgen Hingsen of Germany, into second place. After the final event, the 1500m, Thompson stood over his rivals as they collapsed to the ground, creating an iconic image that underscored his dominance.
Germany may get their moment at the European Championship in 2026, but Leo Neugebauer competes as the reigning world champion.
Aron wears afterburners
Christine Aron’s burst of speed in the anchor leg of the women’s 4x100m at the 1998 European Championships in Budapest was one of the most remarkable sights in the event’s history. The Frenchwoman, who had won the 100m earlier in the championships in 10.73, was out of medal contention and six meters clear of Russia’s Irina Privalova and still brought home the gold medal.
Relays are always exciting and there is likely to be another exciting women’s sprint relay final in 2026, with France once again plus host nation Britain, Germany and the Netherlands among the top contenders.
Adds style to the saddle
Italian athletes shone on home turf at the 2024 European Championships in Rome. None more so than Gianmarco Tamberi, who delighted the fans by winning high jump gold with a championship record 2.37m. “I knew I was in great shape and I proved it,” Tamberry said.
In Birmingham in 2026, the hope is that Tambery will return to defend his crown. Or could we see any of the host nation’s athletes rise to the occasion?
Sewinska’s golden double
The great Polish sportswoman Irena Sewinska became the author of a memorable double with championship records at the European Championship held in Rome in 1974. East Germany’s Renate Stecher had enjoyed a long winning streak before the event, but Shewinska won the 100m in 11.13 and the 200m in 22.51.
If there are no American, Caribbean or African sprinters in Birmingham next year, the way is clear for a European athlete to make his mark, perhaps with a Szewińska-style double.
Beckley on top of the world
In the 1990s and early millennium, winning the men’s javelin title at the European Championships was like claiming world gold, as most of the top throwers were from this continent. It was therefore very impressive when Steve Beckley won four consecutive European titles in this tournament. Starting with Split in 1990, he won further titles in Helsinki in 1994, Budapest in 1998 and Munich in 2002.
British javelin throwing has not been thriving recently, but could a home championship in Birmingham inspire the nation’s young javelin throwers to raise their game?
Radcliffe at the height of his powers
On a rainy night in Munich in 2002, Paula Radcliffe swept away the opposition to win the European 10,000m title. The Briton clocked a European record of 30:01.09 as she outpaced most of the field to beat runner-up Sonia O’Sullivan by nearly 300m.
Italy’s Nadia Battocletti will be the favorite to win the title in 2026, but wouldn’t it be great if Elish McColgan returns to the scene of her Commonwealth victory in 2022?
Ball storms to the Triple Crown
At the 2022 European Championships in Munich, Femke Bol won the 400 m in a Dutch record of 49.44. Two days later, he won the 400m hurdles crown by nearly two seconds in a championship record 52.67. He then capped off his golden week by helping the Netherlands win the 4x400m in a Dutch record of 3:20.87.
Now in 2026, will we see the 25-year-old conquer the women’s 800m in Birmingham?
Ingebrigtsen shows great promise in Berlin
Jakob Ingebrigtsen was only 17 years old when he made his mark at the 2018 European Championships in Berlin with a double victory.
In the 1500m he clocked 3:38.10 to beat Marcin Lewandowski and Jake Wightman, and in the 5000m he clocked a world under-20 record of 13:17.06, ahead of his brother Henrik.
In Birmingham, he is going for his 7th European outdoor title on the track, or 24th gold if you include the cross-country, indoor and under-20 events.
Find out more about the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham here.
