Neugebauer Leads After Day One, Kaul Emerges as Gold Contender

Neugebauer Leads After Day One, Kaul Emerges as Gold Contender

Stand: 12.08.2026 • 23:23 Uhr

Germany is poised to claim the athletics crown, with Leo Neugebauer and Niklas Kaul in contention for the decathlon gold as they head into the second day of competition.

The first day concluded with the 400 meters, a pivotal event that highlighted the potential for a German showdown for the title. Kaul impressed once again, clocking a season-best time of 47.99 seconds, marking the second-best performance of his career in the event. Meanwhile, Neugebauer faced challenges, starting too aggressively and finishing with a time of 48.81 seconds, which saw him struggle across the finish line.

Despite his difficulties, Neugebauer remains in the lead with 4,483 points, although his margin has narrowed, with Jeff Tesselaar from the Netherlands and Norway's Sander Skotheim closing in, trailing by 71 and 101 points, respectively.

This reduced lead does not diminish Neugebauer's status as a gold favorite, although Kaul's strong performance places him firmly in contention as well. Kaul sits in a commendable sixth place with 4,214 points, showcasing his strengths are yet to come on the second day.

A Potential Gold Duel Between Neugebauer and Kaul?

"The 400 meters are rarely enjoyable, but today was exhilarating because I felt great. That was the second-best time of my career, and it was a good day," Kaul remarked in an interview. "There are still five events to go, and it’s just fun. But even if I finish fourth, that would be okay." Given his strengths in the latter half of the competition, Kaul's aspirations are now significantly heightened.

I believe I struggled for a long time after my major successes, thinking I had to be someone else. I’m not doing that anymore; I’m just having fun. Niklas Kaul

Sportschau expert Frank Busemann had expressed optimism prior to the 400-meter race about the possibility of a gold medal duel between the two Germans. "I’m definitely looking forward to the second day. Two medals for Germany would be a dream," Neugebauer stated. "Niklas and I are competitors, but that only makes us better."

Ideally, the competition will see one athlete motivate the other towards gold when they resume on Thursday at 10:33 AM with the 110-meter hurdles.

Neugebauer Shines with EM Record in Early Session

In the morning session, Neugebauer showcased his talent, entering the high jump with a commanding 129-point lead over his competitors. However, the reigning world champion faced pressure as he attempted to clear 1.96 meters, having already made two errors. With only one chance left to avoid disappointment, he delivered a champion's performance by clearing 1.99 meters.

Kaul also excelled in the high jump, achieving a height of 2.02 meters, though he was frustrated after narrowly missing 2.05 meters. Earlier in the day, Kaul had recorded three impressive performances: he sprinted 100 meters in 11.23 seconds, opted out of a third attempt in the long jump after a solid 7.22 meters, and achieved a personal best of 15.26 meters in the shot put.

Neugebauer's shot put performance was particularly notable, as he recorded the best distance in a decathlon at the European Championships with 17.13 meters. He had also set the pace in the long jump with a leading mark of 7.82 meters, maintaining his position at the top. He faced a moment of concern during the 100 meters, stumbling at the start but managing to finish with a respectable time of 10.91 seconds.

Gräber Adds to Germany's Medal Hopes

Germany's medal prospects extend beyond Neugebauer and Kaul, with a third athlete, Amadeus Gräber, making a notable impression. The young talent stands in 13th place with 4,150 points after completing the 100 meters in 10.79 seconds, jumping 7.23 meters in the long jump, throwing 13.29 meters in the shot put, and clearing 1.99 meters in the high jump. He capped off his day with a personal best of 48.31 seconds in the 400 meters, demonstrating his poise in his debut.

As the competition progresses, Neugebauer leads the field in Birmingham with a total of 8,730 points, followed closely by Kaul, who has amassed 8,528 points this year. Notably, Swiss athlete Simon Ehammer has opted out of the decathlon, focusing solely on the long jump where he secured silver, allowing the German team to aim for two medals. Additionally, Olympic champion Markus Rooth from Norway is absent from the competition.