European Athletics 2026: Shot Put Bronze Lifts Sweden On Day One Of Europeans

European Athletics 

Wictor Petersson wins bronze to put Sweden on the medal board at European Championships. Sweden also suffered hammer and pole vault setbacks in Birmingham.

Former world indoor silver medallist Montler finished 13th with 7.90m as Sweden struggled in field events, and pole vaulter Sandberg was ruled out injured...

Sweden got off to a strong start at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, UK, with Wictor Petersson claiming bronze in the men’s shot put on day one.

Petersson, who won silver indoors in Europe last year, came into the championships as one of Sweden’s top medal hopes. He showed that form in the morning’s qualifying, throwing 20.47m to finish fourth and reach the final. His teammate Leo Zikovic wasn’t as fortunate and missed out after failing to make the top 12.

Going into the final stages, Petersson was outside the medals at the halfway point with a best of 20.44m from his opener. He then made a big jump on his fourth throw, launching 20.86m to move up to third.

The bronze was confirmed when Great Britain’s Scott Lincoln couldn’t better 20.81m with his final throw. With the medal safe, Petersson finished strongly with a 20.97m effort. It wasn’t enough to catch Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri and Zane Weir though, who took gold and silver.

Going into the final stages, Petersson was outside the medals at the halfway point with a best of 20.44m from his opener. He then made a big jump on his fourth throw, launching 20.86m to move up to third.

The bronze was confirmed when Great Britain’s Scott Lincoln couldn’t better 20.81m with his final throw. With the medal safe, Petersson finished strongly with a 20.97m effort. It wasn’t enough to catch Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri and Zane Weir though, who took gold and silver.

Sweden’s other medal contenders also had smooth sailing in women’s shot put qualifying. Axelina Johansson, who took bronze at this year’s world indoor championships, hit the automatic 18m mark right away with 18.12m. Fanny Roos, fifth at last year’s world championships, went further on her first throw with 18.72m.

Johansson and Roos qualified fourth and seventh overall. Victoria Wickman missed out though her best of 15.84m wasn’t enough to get into the 12-woman final.

Johansson couldn’t find much more in the final - her best was 18.18m on her second throw, which left her 10th overall.

 

Roos fared much better, though. She was sitting fourth after two rounds thanks to a 19.05m throw.

But Roos couldn’t improve on any of her last four attempts and had to settle for fourth. She finished some way behind Germany’s Yemisi Ogunleye, who claimed bronze with 19.50m.

It was a Dutch one-two at the top. Jessica Schilder won gold with 20.73m, well ahead of her compatriot who took silver with a PB of 19.64m.

Leonardo Fabbri 🇮🇹 won GOLD in the men's Shot Put at the European Championships in Birmingham!🥇

He successfully defended his title with a throw of 22.31m, leading an Italian 1-2 with Zane Weir 🇮🇹 who took Silber with 21.12m.

🇸🇪 Wictor Petersson's best effort of 20.97m got him… pic.twitter.com/pAF4I39bsh

— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) August 10, 2026

Swedish athletes book spots in semis and final

Moa Granat finished fourth in her 400m hurdles heat, but her season’s best of 56.11 was the ninth-fastest time overall. That was enough to send her through to the semi-finals on 11th August. Tilde Bjerager wasn’t as lucky - her 57.03 missed out on qualification.

Andreas Kramer also moved on despite limited racing lately. He ran a season’s best of 1:46.05 to finish second in his 800m heat and reach the semi-finals.

Maja Askag secured a spot in the women’s long jump final on 13th August too. She saved her best for last, jumping 14.21m to place sixth in qualifying. Emilia Sjöstrand’s 13.46m wasn’t enough to crack the top 12.

Heartbreak for Sweden in field events

It was a tough one for former world indoor silver medallist Thobias Montler. He missed the men’s long jump final by just 1cm, with his last effort of 7.90m leaving him 13th. Czech Republic’s Petr Meindlschmid snatched the last spot with 7.91m after fouling his first two jumps. Niklas Wall also bowed out, finishing 23rd out of 30 with a best of 7.93m.

In the men’s hammer, Ragnar Carlsson fouled his first two throws. His final attempt of 68.54m wasn’t close to what he needed to make the final.

There was also bad news away from the track. Pole vaulter Oliver Sandberg will miss the championships after his pole snapped in training. He landed badly and picked up injuries to his wrist, back and neck.