Tentoglou Leads Greece’s European Championship Challenge

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The 2026 European Athletics Championships began on Monday, August 10, at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, with a strong Greek contingent taking to the track and field on the opening day. The championships run from August 10 to 16.

Olympic and European long-jump champion Miltiadis Tentoglou leads Greece’s challenge on the opening day of the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, entering the competition after a spectacular season that has seen him produce some of the best jumps of his career.

Tentoglou arrived at the championships with an 8.61m world-leading jump, while he also matched the Greek national record with an 8.66m effort. He will begin his European title defence in the men’s long-jump qualification at 13:30 on Monday, competing in Group B.

The automatic qualification mark stands at 8.15m, with fellow Greek Alexandros Stamatonikolos competing in Group A.

Tentoglou is among several Greek athletes beginning their European Championship campaigns on Monday, with Greece represented across the throwing events, sprints, jumps and relays.

The morning session begins at 12:35 with the women’s shot put qualification, where Rafaela Raphailidou competes in Group A and Maria Magoulia in Group B.

At 12:40, Christos Frantzeskakis takes part in the men’s hammer throw qualification in Group A, with the automatic qualification mark set at 78.00m.

The women’s 100m heats follow at 13:25, with Polyniki Emmanouilidou in the second heat and Rafaela Spanoudakiin the third.

The men’s hammer qualification continues at 14:20, with Orestis Papanastasiou and Michalis Anastasakis competing in Group B.

At 14:40, Thomas Gennikis, Nikolaos Machairas and Orestis Mouzenidis enter the men’s shot put qualification.

The evening programme features several finals, including the women’s shot put at 21:03, the men’s shot put at 22:33, the men’s 5,000m at 22:40, the mixed 4x400m relay at 23:40 and the women’s 100m final at 23:50.

Spyridoula Karydi will compete in the women’s triple jump qualification at 21:55, while Stamatia Skarveli enters the women’s hammer qualification at 22:38.

With Tentoglou leading the Greek contingent, attention will be firmly focused on whether the reigning European champion can once again produce a major performance on the continental stage.

Yes — I’ll use that approach going forward: when a Greek athlete has a major achievement, record, medal, title or significant form heading into an event, I’ll put that at the top of the sports story and use the schedule as supporting information, rather than opening with a timetable.

Evening session

The evening programme begins at 21:03 with the women’s shot put final.

At 21:10, the women’s hammer throw qualification continues with Group A, followed by the women’s 100m hurdles heats at 21:35.

Spyridoula Karydi will compete in the women’s triple jump qualification at 21:55, with the automatic qualification mark set at 14.15m.

The women’s 100m semi-finals follow at 22:10, before the men’s shot put final at 22:33.

At 22:38, Stamatia Skarveli enters the women’s hammer throw qualification in Group B, where the qualification mark is 71.50m.

The men’s 5,000m final begins at 22:40, followed by the women’s 3,000m steeplechase heats at 23:00.

The evening concludes with the mixed 4x400m relay final at 23:40, followed by the women’s 100m final at 23:50.

Greece’s Day One Schedule

All times are local Birmingham time.

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