Summary

Send your athletics views

  1. Postpublished at 19:38 BST 11 August

    Women's 5,000m final

    Paula Radcliffe
    Former women's marathon world record holder on BBC Two

    Right now, there is the defending champion Nadia Battocletti at the front, which has immediately caused a reaction. She is just winding up very gently.

  2. Postpublished at 19:38 BST 11 August

    Women's 5,000m final

    Defending champion Nadia Battocletti decides now is the time to assert herself on this final.

    The Italian strides to the front of the race at the 3,000m mark - and now the field begins to thin.

    But wait, that was short lived. Battocletti slows again. This is wide open...

  3. Postpublished at 19:35 BST 11 August

    Women's 5,000m final

    The race remains fairly pedestrian as the athletes pass the two kilometre mark, and it's still very bunched up.

    Hannah Nuttall is hovering in around sixth position, hogging the inside line and just keeping alert for any big moves.

    Fellow Briton Innes FitzGerald begins to try and work her way up through the pack as the runners behind to spread out across three lanes.

  4. 'Danger of tripping and getting hurt'published at 19:31 BST 11 August

    Women’s 5,000m final

    Paula Radcliffe
    Former women's marathon world record holder on BBC Two

    Runners in the 5,000mImage source, Getty Images

    With this field that big, you want the pace to get moving to string them out. There is a huge danger of tripping and getting hurt.

  5. Postpublished at 19:31 BST 11 August

    Women's 5,000m final

    Women's 5,000m finalImage source, Getty Images

    Gresa Bakraçi attempts to push the pace but nobody is willing to go with her, so by the first kilometre marker she slows to rejoin the main group.

    Great Britain's Hannah Nuttall, ranked fourth for season-best performances among the athletes in this final and a genuine medal contender, is up there.

  6. Postpublished at 19:27 BST 11 August

    Women's 5,000m final

    The women's 5,000m contenders are away at Alexander Stadium.

    There's not much urgency at all at the start of the race, with Kosovo's Gresa Bakraci ending up at the front and everyone else bunched up close behind.

  7. 'You can't underestimate the impact of bringing your kids to this'published at 19:27 BST 11 August

    Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill
    Three-time world heptathlon champion on BBC Two

    On the lack of supporters in the stands...

    We know that Birmingham’s such a fantastic sporting city and there’s great athletics tradition here.

    I think it's hard with the timing of the competition - it’s the beginning of the week, the summer holidays - there’s a lot that plays into it.

    But I really hope the public comes out over the next few days because there’s some fantastic athletics.

    And you can’t underestimate the impact of bringing your kids to this.

    My kids were here this morning and being in this environment, where they’re creating core memories, stimulated by these incredible performances, it’s so inspiring and you only get that when you’re here, experiencing it live.

    Members of the public watch athletes competing in the women's pole vault qualifier during the European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on August 11, 2026. Concern has been raised about the low attendances at the European Athletics Championships in BirminghamImage source, Getty Images
  8. Postpublished at 19:26 BST 11 August

    Greg Rutherford
    Former world and Olympic long jump champion on BBC Two

    On the lack of supporters in the stands...

    For Matthew Hudson-Smith as well, that would be such a wonderful thing [the stands being full].

    Imagine running past your own stand in a stadium and having it full. It would be an amazing thing for him to experience and also amazing for everyone here.

    I have been sent a few messages via Instagram saying they have just struggled to afford it and that's part of the world that we're living in at the moment.

  9. 'I am used to being on the stage'published at 19:24 BST 11 August

    Amy Hunt
    Great Britain's 100m European champion on BBC Two

    I grew up doing dance, ballet, tap and theatre.

    I am used to being on the stage, so I enjoy it. These are the moments we train so hard for.

    I just enjoy racing so much. I always know I am going to come through at the end. I was thinking: 'Just don't panic'.

    Amy Hunt celebrates at the medal ceremonyImage source, Getty Images
  10. Postpublished at 19:23 BST 11 August

    Women's 5,000 final

    Right then, time for us first event on the track tonight.

    We have three British athletes ready to go. Hannah Nuttall finished strongly for fifth at the recent Commonwealth Games and could be a medal contender. Also competing are Innes FitzGerald, who won the 3,000m and 5,000m European under-20 double last summer, and India Weir.

    Italy’s Nadia Battocletti is the reigning European champion on the track over 5,000m and 10,000m and has become a medal-winning machine, adding Olympic and world medals, this year’s world indoor 3000m title, two European cross-country titles and continental 10km road gold.

    Experienced Dutch runner Maureen Koster has emerged as the form athlete this summer, defeating Battocletti in Rome with a European-leading 14:33.56. Meanwhile Ireland’s European indoor 3,000m champion Sarah Healy has stepped up in distance this year.

  11. 'I am looking to be iconic'published at 19:22 BST 11 August

    Amy Hunt
    Great Britain's 100m European champion on BBC Two

    Amy HuntImage source, Getty Images

    On her aim of winning four gold medals at the European Championships...

    I see the numbers. Every day in training I see what I am running. If I knew I wasn't going to do it, I probably wouldn't say it. I am so confident in myself. I don't shy away from it - it is almost like manifesting it in a way. I love it so much.

    When I spoke to Darren Campbell [Team GB coach], he is my mentor, and I said: 'The one [100m], the 2 [200m], the 4x4 and the mixed 4x4.

    He said: 'You're looking to be iconic'. I was like, 'Yes, I am looking to be iconic'. I want to do what nobody has ever done before.

    I think this is the perfect place to do it. I am an East Midlands girl, and I am from Newark.

    This is the closest I am ever going to get to a home crowd in my entire career.

  12. Watch how Britain's Hunt sprinted to European 100m goldpublished at 19:20 BST 11 August

    Women's 100m champion Amy Hunt is in the BBC studio, I think we can have a one more look back at her victory yesterday evening.

    Hunt won her first major gold medal on day one, Great Britain's first of these Championships.

    Media caption,

    Britain's Hunt powers to women's European 100m gold

  13. '£26 tickets available tonight'published at 19:18 BST 11 August

    Gabby Logan
    Presenter on BBC Two

    It is expensive if you buy the expensive tickets. I bumped into Jack Buckner today, the head of UK Athletics.

    He said there are £26 tickets available tonight, and you get so much great entertainment of world-class sport.

  14. Norris' hammer timepublished at 19:14 BST 11 August

    Men's hammer final

    Jake Norris of Team Great Britain competes in Men's Hammer Throw Qualification during day one of the 27th European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium on August 10, 2026 in Birmingham, EnglandImage source, Getty Images

    Another field event is ready to go - it's the final of the men's hammer.

    Great Britain's Jake Norris, a former world under-20 champion, qualified on Monday as the ninth of 12 athletes competing. He improved his PB to 77.76m in May and came fourth at the recent Commonwealth Games.

    Poland’s five-time world champion Pawel Fajdek left it late to qualify yesterday, getting through on his final throw, while compatriot and reigning European champion Wojciech Nowicki didn’t make it to the final.

    Yann Chaussinand of France has been in superb form this year but also needed a final-round 77.45m in the qualifying round to keep alive his hopes of a first major medal. Hungary’s Bence Halasz has seven major medals but awaits his first gold.

  15. Tutton targets pole vault finalpublished at 19:11 BST 11 August

    Women's pole vault qualifiers

    We start this evening with the women's pole vault qualifiers.

    Great Britain's Molly Caudery, the world indoor champion, is missing after she had emergency spinal surgery that ruled her out for the season, but 21-year-old Gemma Tutton goes in the first of two groups - she won her first British title in June and finished fifth at the Commonwealth Games.

    Elsewhere, Switzerland’s Angelica Moser is the European champion indoors and out, while Tina Sutej is still going strong at 37, winning world bronze last year and world indoor silver five months ago.

    Wilma Heltela (formerly Murto), the 2022 champion, has re-established herself among Europe’s elite with a season’s best of 4.81m to lead the entry lists, while France’s Marie-Julie Bonnin won the world indoor title in Nanjing last year.

    The top 12 go through to Thursday's final.

  16. Elsewhere in the morning sessionpublished at 19:10 BST 11 August

    Lina NielsenImage source, Reuters

    Outside of Keely-watch, there was plenty of British success in the morning session.

    Lina Nielsen finished with a huge personal best to qualify for the women’s 400m hurdles final, producing the third-best time of the day with a time of 54.04 seconds, 0.39 seconds quicker than her previous best.

    Commonwealth silver medallist Emily Newnham also progressed to Wednesday evening’s final, finishing second in her heat in a time of 54.32.

    Joel Clarke-Khan and Kimani Jack were the top two qualifiers in the men’s high jump.

    The pair cleared all four heights they attempted first time to top their respective qualifying groups, with Clarke-Khan placing first and Jack second overall.

    Jemma Reekie will join Hodgkinson in the women's 800m semi-finals. Her time of 1:58.45 saw her finish fourth in her heat and progress as one of the fastest non-automatic qualifiers, but Erin Wallace did not progress after placing fifth with 2:01.10.

    Josh Faulds progressed in the men’s 400m hurdles heats, winning the first heat in 48.90 to make it through to the next round on Wednesday morning.

    Commonwealth silver medallist Samuel Bennett moved forward to Wednesday’s men’s 110m hurdles semi-finals after producing the third-fastest time in the heats with 13.57 seconds.

    Joel Clarke-KhanImage source, Getty Images
  17. Hodgkinson and rivals progress at Europeanspublished at 19:07 BST 11 August

    Women's 800m heats

    Harry Poole
    BBC Sport

    Britain's Keely Hodgkinson (C) leads in front of France's Renelle Lamote (L) and Germany's Smilla Kolbe (R) as they compete in the women's 800m heat 1 during the European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on August 11, 2026Image source, Getty Images

    Keely Hodgkinson and expected gold medal rivals Audrey Werro and Femke Broeders-Bol remain on course for their highly anticipated showdown after safely reaching Thursday's women's 800m semi-finals at the European Athletics Championships.

    Olympic champion Hodgkinson, winner of the past two European titles, controlled her heat throughout to win in one minute 57.28 seconds - the fastest time across the four heats on Tuesday morning.

    Swiss athlete Werro, who stunned Hodgkinson by running the fastest time for 43 years to beat the Briton earlier this season, appeared equally comfortable as she won her race in 1:57.83.

    There were no issues either for Femke Broeders-Bol. The fast-improving Dutch two-time world 400m hurdles champion, who chose to switch events this season, crossed the line first in 1:59.96.

    Hodgkinson's post-race interview with BBC Sport was briefly interrupted by Italy's Eloisa Coiro, who said the 24-year-old was "an inspiration on and off the track".

    This Flourish post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:04 BST 11 August

    Click 'Get Involved' on this page to have your say

    As ever, we want to hear from you tonight as Europe's finest athletes compete at the Alexander Stadium.

    Whether you're in Birmingham, watching from home or listening to the radio.

    Get Involved and send us your thoughts via the form at the top of this page.

  19. Welcome back!published at 19:00 BST 11 August

    Hello there, welcome back to the evening session of day two of the European Championships in Birmingham.

    We've got five gold medals to hand out tonight, including the men's 100m.

    The men's hammer, the women's 5,000m, men's long jump and women's 100m hurdles also come to a conclusion.

    Let's get going!

  20. Tuesday evening's schedulepublished at 13:14 BST 11 August

    That's it for the morning session at Alexander Stadium

    Here's what is coming up tonight.

    BBC TV coverage: 19:00-20:00 on BBC Two and 20:00-22:00 on BBC One

    BBC Radio commentary: 20:25-22:00 on 5 Live & Sounds

    Events (finals in bold):

    19:05 Women's pole vault qualification

    19:10: Men's hammer final

    19:25: Women's 5,000m final

    19:55 Women's 100m hurdles semi-final

    20:16: Men's long jump final

    20:32 Men's 100m semi-finals

    21:00 Men's 400m semi-finals

    21:30: Women's 100m hurdles final

    21:45: Men's 100m final