Italy claimed the top position at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, edging out Great Britain by a single gold medal. The Italian team secured victory in the men’s 4×400 metres relay during the final event of the championships, denying the host nation the opportunity to finish first despite competing on home soil.
Great Britain’s performance resulted in a second-place finish overall, disappointing their bid to reclaim the top spot after finishing third at the 2024 Rome championships. The British team accumulated nine gold medals alongside eight silver and two bronze medals throughout the competition. Italy’s victory marked their second consecutive championship title at the top of the standings.
Historically, Great Britain remains the most decorated nation in the championships’ 92-year history. The team has topped the medal table on five previous occasions, most recently at Munich in 2022. Notable British successes at this year’s event included Amy Hunt’s unprecedented four gold medals in a single championship and strong performances across the sprint events, with multiple relay victories demonstrating the strength of the British sprinting programme.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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