List of European Athletics Championships medalists (women) facts for kids

The European Athletics Championships are a super exciting event where the best athletes from all over Europe compete! Think of it like the Olympics, but just for European countries. Athletes show off their amazing skills in many different sports, like running, jumping, and throwing. This page tells you about some of the incredible women who have won medals at these championships.

What are the European Athletics Championships?

The European Athletics Championships happen every two years. Athletes from many different European countries come together. They compete in track and field events. Winning a medal here is a huge achievement. It means you are one of the very best in Europe!

Track Events

Track events are all about speed and endurance. Athletes run on a special track. These events range from short, super-fast sprints to long-distance races.

Short Sprints: 100 and 200 Metres

The 100 metres is one of the most thrilling races. It's all about pure speed! Athletes burst out of the starting blocks. They sprint as fast as they can to the finish line. The 200 metres is a bit longer. Runners have to keep their speed for a longer time.

Many amazing women have won these races. For example, Fanny Blankers-Koen from the Netherlands was a star in the early days. She won both the 100m and 200m in 1950. Later, Irena Szewińska from Poland also won multiple medals. More recently, Dina Asher-Smith from Great Britain has shown incredible speed.

Middle and Long Distance Runs

• 400 Metres: This race is one lap around the track. It needs both speed and stamina. Marita Koch from East Germany was a legend in this event. She won three times in a row!
• 800 Metres: This is two laps. Runners need to be fast and smart. They have to decide when to speed up. Vera Nikolić from Yugoslavia won this event twice.
• 1500 Metres: This race is about three and a half laps. It's a mix of speed and endurance. Great athletes like Laura Muir from Great Britain have won gold here.
• 5000 Metres and 10,000 Metres: These are longer races. They test an athlete's staying power. Runners need to keep a steady pace for many laps. Yasemin Can from Turkey has been a strong competitor in these events.

Hurdles and Steeplechase

• 100 Metres Hurdles: This is a sprint race. Athletes jump over ten hurdles. It needs speed, rhythm, and jumping skills. Karin Balzer from East Germany was a champion in this event.
• 400 Metres Hurdles: This is a longer hurdle race. It's one lap with ten hurdles. It's very tough! Femke Bol from the Netherlands is a recent winner.
• 3000 Metres Steeplechase: This is a unique race. Runners jump over barriers and water jumps. It's a real test of strength and agility. Luiza Gega from Albania won gold in 2022.

Relay Races

• 4 × 100 Metres Relay: Four athletes run 100 metres each. They pass a baton to each other. It's all about teamwork and smooth baton exchanges. Germany and Great Britain have won many medals.
• 4 × 400 Metres Relay: This is a longer relay race. Each of the four athletes runs 400 metres. It's exciting to watch the lead change! Poland and the Netherlands have strong teams.

Road Events

Road events are long-distance races. They take place on roads, not on a track.

Half Marathon and Marathon

• Half Marathon: This race is about 21 kilometres long. It's a big challenge for runners. Sara Moreira from Portugal won the first women's half marathon in 2016.
• Marathon: This is a super long race, about 42 kilometres! It's one of the toughest events. Rosa Mota from Portugal won the marathon three times in a row. That's amazing!

Race Walking

• 20 Kilometres Walk: Athletes walk very fast in this event. They must keep one foot on the ground at all times. It's a special technique! María Pérez from Spain won in 2018.
• 35 Kilometres Walk: This is an even longer walking race. It was added more recently. Antigoni Drisbioti from Greece won this in 2022.
• 50 Kilometres Walk: This is the longest walking race. It's a huge test of endurance. Ines Henriques from Portugal won this in 2018.

Field Events

Field events are about jumping and throwing. They show off an athlete's power and skill.

Jumping Events

• Long Jump: Athletes run and then jump as far as they can into a sandpit. Heike Drechsler from Germany won this event four times! Ivana Vuleta from Serbia is a recent champion.
• Triple Jump: This jump has three parts: a hop, a skip, and a jump. It needs incredible coordination. Olha Saladukha from Ukraine has won multiple gold medals.
• High Jump: Athletes run and then jump over a high bar. They try not to knock it down. Ruth Beitia from Spain won three times in a row! Yaroslava Mahuchikh from Ukraine is a current champion.
• Pole Vault: Athletes use a long, flexible pole to help them jump over a very high bar. It's a mix of gymnastics and jumping. Ekaterini Stefanidi from Greece has won this event many times.

Throwing Events

• Shot Put: Athletes push a heavy metal ball as far as they can. It's all about strength. Christina Schwanitz from Germany has been a top performer.
• Discus Throw: Athletes spin around and throw a heavy disc. It needs power and technique. Sandra Perković from Croatia is a true legend. She has won the discus throw six times!
• Hammer Throw: Athletes spin a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. They throw it as far as possible. Anita Włodarczyk from Poland is a superstar in this event. She has won four times!
• Javelin Throw: Athletes throw a spear-like object. It needs strength and a very precise technique. Ruth Fuchs from East Germany won this event twice.

Discontinued Events

Some events that were once part of the championships are no longer held.

3000 Metres (discontinued)

This was a middle-distance track race. It was similar to the 5000 metres. Sonia O'Sullivan from Ireland won the last 3000m race in 1994.

80 Metres Hurdles (discontinued)

This was an earlier version of the 100 metres hurdles. It was a shorter sprint over hurdles. Fanny Blankers-Koen won this event twice.

10 Kilometres Walk (discontinued)

This was a shorter race walking event. Annarita Sidoti from Italy won this event three times.

Pentathlon (discontinued)

The pentathlon was a multi-event competition. Athletes competed in five different events. It was replaced by the heptathlon, which has seven events. Galina Bystrova from the Soviet Union won this event twice.