Finland’s Performance Highlighted at 2026 European Athletics Championships
The 2026 European Athletics Championships kicked off in Birmingham, UK, with Finland making an impressive start, particularly through the athlete Ilona Mononen. Recognized as one of the country’s key medal contenders, Mononen achieved a remarkable second-place finish in her heat of the 3000m steeplechase.
Having previously secured the European under-23 Championship title in Bergen, Mononen demonstrated her skills by maintaining a strategic position just behind the leaders throughout the race. This tactical approach allowed her to comfortably advance as one of the eight athletes qualifying for the finals, finishing with a commendable time of 9:32.55, just behind Great Britain’s Elise Thorner.
Mononen is set to compete in the final on August 13th, yet her teammate Alisa Virtanen will not join her, having placed 15th in a different heat.
Kangas and Other Finnish Athletes Face Challenges
In the women’s shot put, Finland’s Emilia Kangas initially looked poised for success. Her best throw of 18.04m secured her an eighth-place finish in the qualification rounds, allowing her to progress to the final’s evening session. However, despite her efforts, she managed only 18.20m in the final, which ultimately placed her in ninth after a foul on her third throw. As a result, Kangas’s journey in the competition ended there.
Another Finnish competitor, Senja Makitorma, narrowly missed qualification for the final, finishing 13th with a best throw of 17.38m, while Minttu Laurila struggled with a maximum throw of 15.40m, placing her 25th.
Mixed Results in Sprints and Distance Events
Lotta Kempinen, known for her previous performance as a semi-finalist at the World Indoor Championships, began her 100m race strongly. She secured second place in her heat with a seasonal best time of 11.25 seconds. However, during the evening semi-finals, she faced tougher opponents and finished seventh with a time of 11.29 seconds, missing out on the final.
In the women’s 400m hurdles, Heidi Salminen reached the semi-finals confidently, placing second in her heat with a time of 55.93 seconds. She is scheduled to compete again on August 11th, hoping to secure a spot in her first senior final.
The men’s 5000m also showcased Finnish talent through Tuomas Heikkila, a former European Orienteering Championship bronze medallist. He started strong but ultimately finished 13th with a time of 13:30.64, trailing behind the event winner, Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
Disappointment in Jumping and Throwing Events
Finland faced difficulties in the men’s long jump as all three athletes—Kalle Salminen, Kristian Pulli, and Kasperi Vehmann—failed to qualify for the final, finishing in the lower ranks. Salminen’s best effort of 7.85m placed him 17th, while Pulli managed only 7.50m after two fouls, and Vehmann was unable to register a throw.
Henri Liipola did not reach the final in the men’s hammer throw, finishing in 23rd place with a maximum throw of 71.23m, which left him just shy of the qualifying mark. In the women’s triple jump, Senni Salminen achieved only 13.53m, ranking her 21st and well below her personal best.
