Athletics European Championships: Krause Claims Gold, Gürth Wins Bronze, Meyer Faces Misfortune

First German Triumph at the Championships

Stand: 13.08.2026 • 23:16 Uhr

Gesa Krause has achieved a remarkable feat at the Athletics European Championships in Birmingham, securing her third gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase and marking the first triumph for the German team at these continental championships. Olivia Gürth earned a bronze medal, while Lea Meyer experienced a dramatic turn of events.

Krause beamed with joy as she embraced her daughter, Lola Emilia, after her stunning victory in a time of 9:12.69 minutes. The 34-year-old's family was among the first to congratulate her following this triumphant performance, which added to her previous European titles from 2016 in Amsterdam and 2018 in Berlin. After eight years, the fastest mother in the steeplechase world has reclaimed her title as the queen of Europe.

"It has been an incredibly long time between these championships, and I have faced so many ups and downs along the way. I am just proud to have won gold once more and a bit proud of my life's work," Krause told Sportschau. "I believe it is not common to be involved for so many years. I am incredibly grateful and also very proud of Olivia, who has won her first major medal."

For Gürth, who also competes for Silvesterlauf Trier and achieved a season-best time of 9:15.33 minutes, the bronze medal represents the pinnacle of her career thus far. "For me personally, this bronze medal is almost like a gold medal. It means a tremendous amount to me. I watched Gesa's race in 2018 from the stands and saw her cross the finish line. Now to be able to win a medal in the same race together is like the crowning achievement of my journey," the 24-year-old expressed with excitement. France's defending champion, Alice Finot, took silver with a time of 9:14.24.

Meyer Faces Disappointment

Lea Meyer’s race took a tragic turn as she was on course for a medal but fell during the final lap into the water jump, finishing fourth with a time of 9:17.07. This misfortune echoed her experience at the 2022 World Championships, where she faced a similar incident in the heats. The 28-year-old had been leading the race for much of the distance, pushing the pace with Krause closely behind in second place. Gürth also maintained her position in the leading group, which had broken away from the rest of the field.

As the race progressed past the two-kilometer mark, the pace slowed, leading to a more tactical and ultimately dramatic finish. Krause surged to the front on the final lap, crossing the finish line as a dominant winner, while Meyer’s unfortunate fall prevented her from securing a medal.

Meyer Reflects on Her Performance

"I would not have gotten up so quickly if I didn’t think I could catch Olivia," she reflected after the race. "I am disappointed and especially very angry. My own foolishness was directly punished." Meyer did not hold back in her criticism of her teammate's tactics: "It’s clear that Gesa wants to do as little work as possible. She sits back and then sprints out at the end."

However, despite her frustration, Meyer remained resolute: "I consider myself to be the best steeplechaser in Europe. I am convinced that in 2028, I will be standing there with the German record." Her personal best stands at 9:09.13 minutes, while the national record is 9:03.30 minutes, set by Krause in 2019.