European Athletics Championships Day 6: Mahuchikh, Almgren and Díaz shine as records fall

Records tumbled and titles were decided across a packed sixth day of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, with Andy Díaz Hernández, Andreas Almgren, Henriette Jæger and Yaroslava Mahuchikh among the headline winners.

Andy Díaz produced a world-leading 18.15m to win a spectacular men’s triple jump final on Day 6 of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Kate O’Connor captured the heptathlon title with an Irish record, Andreas Almgren dominated the men’s 10,000m and Great Britain completed a 4x100m relay double. Julian Weber, Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Henriette Jæger and Stefan Nillessen were also among the champions, while two world records fell in the new marathon race walk events.

Almgren dominates the men’s 10,000m

Andreas Almgren won the men’s 10,000m title in a championship record of 27:23.44.

After an extremely slow opening kilometre of 3:16.9, Almgren injected pace into the race and eventually pulled clear of the field. The Swedish athlete added the European title to his 10,000m bronze medal from the 2025 World Championships. He also holds the European 5000m record of 12:44.27, set in Stockholm in 2025, and the European road 10km record of 26:45, set in Valencia.

Andreas Almgren: “It was quite amazing. I really wanted to go for it today. There was such a good atmosphere around the whole stadium, so I thought I might as well attack the record. I really needed that support because, during the final five laps, I felt like I was dying.”

Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu earned silver in a season’s best of 27:42.67. World champion Jimmy Gressier of France took bronze in 28:07.90, ahead of 2022 European champion Yemaneberhan Crippa, who finished fourth in 28:08.56.

1. Andreas Almgren (SWE) – 27:23.44 CR, SB
2. Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu (SUI) – 27:42.67 SB
3. Jimmy Gressier (FRA) – 28:07.90 SB

Díaz Hernández soars beyond 18 metres

Andy Díaz won his first European outdoor title by improving his Italian record to a world-leading 18.15m (+1.7 m/s) in the second round.

Díaz finished just three centimetres short of the championship record of 18.18m set by Jordan Díaz in Rome in 2024. The Italian moved to fourth on the world all-time list, behind world record-holder Jonathan Edwards (18.29m), Christian Taylor (18.21m) and Jordan Díaz (18.18m). His winning leap was also the fourth-best performance in history.

World champion Pedro Pablo Pichardo took silver with 17.76m, while world silver medallist Andrea Dallavalle secured a second medal for Italy with a 17.37m effort.

Andy Díaz: “I wanted to break the world record, but I am happy. It was a jump I had been chasing for a long time. Getting close to the record was a big deal, even though I still have work to do. I am happy because I proved I can do it.”

1. Andy Díaz Hernández (ITA) – 18.15m WL, NR
2. Pedro Pichardo (POR) – 17.76m SB
3. Andrea Dallavalle (ITA) – 17.37m

Weber unleashes a 90.40m championship record

Germany’s Julian Weber produced a dramatic final-round throw of 90.40m to win the men’s javelin title with a championship record and European lead.

Weber claimed his second European crown, four years after winning in Munich in 2022. He also earned silver at Rome 2024. The former handball player from Mainz began his 2026 season only in mid-July after injury problems disrupted his preparation, opening with an 87.04m victory in Lucerne.

Nick Thumm completed a German one-two by setting a personal best of 83.76m, while Latvia’s Patriks Gailums claimed bronze with 82.97m.

Julian Weber: “It was just amazing. I struggled a lot at the beginning of the competition because I had a problem with my run-up. I wasn’t getting into my rhythm, so I couldn’t throw far. I knew I just had to stay calm and be ready, and that it would come. I’m so happy I managed to do it on the last throw. The last one was just perfect. It was such an amazing feeling, and I shocked myself. I knew I could throw that far if I really pushed into it. I am so grateful and so happy it worked. It is a great feeling to regain my title. Munich four years ago was really special on home soil, but going around the stadium in Birmingham gave me the same feeling.”

1. Julian Weber (GER) – 90.40m CR, EL
2. Nick Thumm (GER) – 83.76m PB
3. Patriks Gailums (LAT) – 82.97m

Jæger storms to European 400m title in 49.04

Henriette Jæger produced a commanding performance to win the women’s 400m title in a brilliant 49.04 European lead and Norwegian record.

The 23-year-old finished exactly one second ahead of Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka, who clocked 50.04 for silver. Dutch athlete Lieke Klaver completed the podium in 50.15.

1. Henriette Jæger (NOR) – 49.04 EL, NR
2. Natalia Bukowiecka (POL) – 50.04
3. Lieke Klaver (NED) – 50.15

Mahuchikh retains European high jump crown

Yaroslava Mahuchikh added another European title to her collection, clearing 1.97m to win the women’s high jump.

The Ukrainian entered at 1.92m and cleared that height on her first attempt before overcoming 1.95m on her second and 1.97m at the first time of asking. After passing at 1.99m, she made three unsuccessful attempts at 2.01m.

Poland’s Maria Zodzik and Montenegro’s Marija Vuković both cleared 1.95m, with Zodzik taking silver on countback.

1. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) – 1.97m
2. Maria Zodzik (POL) – 1.95m
3. Marija Vuković (MNE) – 1.95m

O’Connor wins heptathlon with Irish record

Kate O’Connor won the European heptathlon title with an Irish record of 6751 points. Emma Oosterwegel of the Netherlands earned silver with 6713, while world indoor champion Sofie Dokter added another medal for the Dutch team by taking bronze with 6664.

Switzerland’s Annik Kälin, winner in Götzis and Ratingen earlier this year, finished fourth with 6630 points. Overnight leader Adrianna Sulek-Schubert had to settle for fifth with 6375.

Kälin won the long jump with a wind-assisted 6.81m (+3.8 m/s), earning 1109 points. Germany’s Sophie Weißenberg reached 6.56m for 1027 points, and O’Connor set a personal best of 6.55m for 1023. Dokter jumped 6.51m, while Oosterwegel improved her personal best to 6.50m.

After five events, Kälin led Dokter by a single point, 4956 to 4955. O’Connor was another six points behind on 4949, while Weißenberg remained only 17 points off the lead.

O’Connor threw 50.16m in the javelin, finishing second in the event behind Jessica Barreira’s 51.19m. Oosterwegel also surpassed 50 metres with 50.01m, while Sveva Gerevini recorded 45.32m.

O’Connor entered the concluding 800m with a 51-point advantage and needed to finish within approximately 3.5 seconds of Oosterwegel to secure the title. Oosterwegel won the race in 2:10.87, but O’Connor stayed close enough, crossing the line in 2:11.74 to clinch gold.

The Irishwoman added the European crown to the world silver medal she won in Tokyo in 2025 and her Commonwealth Games title from Glasgow earlier in 2026.

1. Kate O’Connor (IRL) – 6751 NR
2. Emma Oosterwegel (NED) – 6713 PB
3. Sofie Dokter (NED) – 6664 PB

Nillessen takes tactical 1500m title

European U23 champion Stefan Nillessen of the Netherlands ran the final lap in 53.5 to win the men’s 1500m title in 3:35.70.

Sweden’s Samuel Pihlström prevailed in a tight battle for silver, clocking 3:36.16 to edge Ireland’s Andrew Coscoran (3:36.24). Great Britain’s Jake Heyward finished fourth in 3:36.40, ahead of compatriots Arlo Ludewick (3:36.65) and Jake Wightman (3:37.18).

Norway’s Narve Gilje Nordås led at the bell before Heyward took control on the final lap, but Nillessen powered through the field over the final 100 metres to snatch victory.

Stefan Nillessen: “This smile won’t leave my face for a long time. This gold medal is just insane. To be honest, I even surprised myself a little with that sprint finish. I knew I felt good, but you don’t know how the others feel. I was boxed in for a long time and knew that, if I could get out, I would be in a good position. With 150 metres to go, I thought: ‘I have to get out of this group and create a gap, but I can’t gamble on the inside.’ I moved to the outside, and with 100 metres left I thought: ‘Let’s send it. Let’s go.’”

1. Stefan Nillessen (NED) – 3:35.70
2. Samuel Pihlström (SWE) – 3:36.16
3. Andrew Coscoran (IRL) – 3:36.24

Hunt completes sprint treble as Britain win women’s 4x100m

Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, Amy Hunt, Success Eduan and Imani-Lara Lansiquot won the women’s 4x100m title in a European-leading 42.05.

Hunt completed the 100m, 200m and 4x100m treble, matching the feat achieved by Asher-Smith at Berlin 2018. Asher-Smith also equalled Polish sprint great Irena Szewińska’s record haul of 10 European Championships medals.

Amy Hunt:“I am standing next to the real-life GOAT. She is the most decorated European athlete in history. I am standing next to some amazing women. This girl is a midwife—she brings babies into the world. This girl wrote a play. We’re all amazing. It was stunning to come together, and I had the time of my life.”*

Women’s 4x100m

1. Great Britain & NI – 42.05 EL
2. Switzerland – 43.12
3. Poland – 43.15

Great Britain complete 4x100m relay double

The British quartet of Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, Zharnel Hughes and Romell Glave got the baton safely around the track to win the men’s 4x100m title in 38.45.

Germany took silver in 38.64, while Belgium completed the podium in 38.70.

Louie Hinchliffe: “The times don’t matter; winning gold is the main thing, so that is job done. It was good to get out there and win a medal. It was always going to be messy in the final. It wasn’t as quick as the heat, but that was because of the conditions in Birmingham late at night.”

Great Britain had won the opening heat in 38.29. Greece and Poland both clocked 39.17, with Greece securing the final automatic qualifying position by two thousandths of a second.

Italy won the second heat in 38.50, ahead of Germany (38.57), with Belgium taking the third automatic qualifying place. Ireland advanced on time in 39.13, while Poland earned the second non-automatic qualifying spot with 39.17. Both Irish 4x100m teams reached their respective finals.

Men’s 4x100m

1. Great Britain & NI – 38.45
2. Germany – 38.64
3. Belgium – 38.70

World records headline morning race walks

The morning race-walking programme produced two world records and four different European champions.

Spain’s María Pérez dominated the women’s half marathon race walk, winning in a world record of 1:30:06. Italy’s Alexandrina Mihai took silver in a personal best of 1:31:04, while Ukraine’s Lyudmila Olyanovska claimed bronze in a national record of 1:31:07.

Italian youngster Sofia Fiorini delivered another record-breaking performance in the women’s marathon walk, clocking 3:15:11 to set world and European U23 records. Katarzyna Zdziebło finished second in a Polish record of 3:19:50, with Spain’s Raquel González third in 3:20:49.

In the men’s marathon walk, Olympic champion Massimo Stano prevailed in a world-leading European record of 2:56:49, just eight seconds ahead of Spain’s Miguel Ángel López. France’s Aurélien Quinion completed the podium.

Spain also celebrated victory in the men’s half marathon race walk through Paul McGrath, who won in a personal best of 1:23:23. Italy claimed both remaining medals through Francesco Fortunato and Andrea Cosi.

Men’s half marathon race walk

1. Paul McGrath (ESP) – 1:23:23 PB
2. Francesco Fortunato (ITA) – 1:23:36
3. Andrea Cosi (ITA) – 1:23:49 PB

Men’s marathon race walk

1. Massimo Stano (ITA) – 2:56:49 ER, WL
2. Miguel Ángel López (ESP) – 2:56:57 PB
3. Aurélien Quinion (FRA) – 2:59:29 PB

Women’s half marathon race walk

1. María Pérez (ESP) – 1:30:06 WR
2. Alexandrina Mihai (ITA) – 1:31:04 PB
3. Lyudmila Olyanovska (UKR) – 1:31:07 NR

Women’s marathon race walk

1. Sofia Fiorini (ITA) – 3:15:11 WR, EU23R
2. Katarzyna Zdziebło (POL) – 3:19:50 NR
3. Raquel González (ESP) – 3:20:49 PB

Mihambo tops long jump qualification with 7.10m

Malaika Mihambo leapt a wind-assisted 7.10m (+3.3 m/s) on her third attempt to produce the longest mark in women’s long jump qualification.

World indoor champion Agate de Sousa of Portugal recorded the second-best mark with a wind-legal 7.00m. European silver medallist Larissa Iapichino qualified third overall with 6.94m.

Commonwealth Games champion Jazmin Sawyers of Great Britain jumped a wind-assisted 6.90m, while compatriot Molly Palmer improved her personal best to 6.72m to join her in the final. France’s Hilary Kpatcha also advanced with a wind-assisted 6.88m.

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