A performance of a lifetime by Great Britain’s Samuel James! The 16-year-old improved his PB by an unfathomable 16 centimetres to clear 2.25m for not just the gold but a championship record and an equal share of the 36-year-old British U18 best held by Olympic and world bronze medallist Steve Smith.
No one, not even James himself, could have predicted such a spectacle in the high jump in Rieti where he smashed the championship record of 2.18m from the inaugural European Athletics U18 Championships in 2016 multiple times.
Poland’s Dawid Baranski took silver with 2.12m, and Germany’s Jan Ungeheuer took bronze with a PB of 2.09m on his second attempt at the height.
"Today felt like a special occasion, I had all my family and friends to support me,” James said.
"I had cleared 2.15m on 16 May but as it was at a minor competition so it was not in the books as a PB. But this secret PB gave me a lot of confidence. The U18 record was 2.18m so I went for that. Clearing all these heights is the best ever feeling. Plus doing it at such a big event representing my country is simply amazing.
“I saw a few videos of my jumps and I knew I should go on. I also have a good feeling of my body and I felt so smooth during all those jumps - I simply had to continue. The best part of the championships is having all my friends around me, that is the main part.
“I had two coaches today - one from Team GB who helped me with ice and cooling and my main coach with whom I went through ups and downs and injuries.”
James’ clearance of 2.15m was enough to take the gold, but the Brit was fuelled by the excitement, adrenaline and pride, deciding to go on to see just how high he could go.
He cleared 2.18m on his first attempt, then 2.21m again on his first attempt – he was in perfect form at the perfect time.
Baranski had still been challenging for the gold up until 2.21m, but having not cleared a height since 2.12m, the title was slipping beyond his grasp.
But he was confirmed as the silver medallist after his third failure in a row which came at his first jump at 2.21m after passing on second attempts at previous heights due to James’ clearances.
"He really surprised everyone. I am so happy for him. I did not expect him to jump that high. It was an amazing competition," said Baranski sportingly after the competition.
Now with the title awarded to James, he pushed on to do the unbelievable.
With his club coach and GB coach both in the stands supporting and advising him, James attempted 2.23m, but knocked the bar off on his first attempt for just his second failure of the competition.
But after recomposing himself, and talking to both coaches, he went again, and this time he floated over in beautiful fashion with the eruption of the stadium behind him.
Though he wasn’t done just yet, he still felt good, so he requested the bar be set at 2.25m – the British U18 national record set in 1990 by Smith.
His first attempt again he knocked off the bar, but he was close.
Before going again, you could see him visualising the steps leading up to the mat and his take off where he pictured himself making even more history.
So as he approached the mat once more, almost the whole stadium watched on in awe, thinking surely not, but at the same time he looks so incredible.
As he curved over the bar it’s almost there was silence in stands for a split second as every watched on, then as he landed on the mat, the bar still up, the stadium shrieked in pure astonishment.
Somehow, James had found the powers to clear 2.25m at the most important time.
He backflipped on the mat as the audience serenaded him with applause, before going to quickly celebrate with his coaches and teammates before focusing back in again.
The 16-year-old went on to attempt 2.27 for the outright British U18 record, but after two failed attempts he decided to retire from the competition and let the celebrations begin.
*Geoblocking restrictions apply in territories where Rieti 2026 is being covered by a national broadcaster