After five major silver and bronze medals over a 12-year span, Ireland’s Mark English ran a perfect tactical race to win the 800m title at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham on Thursday (13) evening.
English also made history by becoming the first Irishman to win an individual gold medal in the 92-year history of the European Athletics Championships.
In summary
- Mark English wins his first major 800m title at the age of 33
- Marino Bloudek wins a surprise silver medal for Croatia
- British hope Max Burgin was a DNS in the final due to an injury in warm-up
After breaking the long-standing championship record in the semifinals with a 1:43.49 clocking, the final was a steady and sedate affair with Mark English in the perfect position to strike as he sat on Croatian Marino Bloudek's shoulder through the bell in a modest 53.39.
English held his position on the last lap as the challengers loomed behind him before the 33-year-old kicked off Bloudek's shoulder with confidence and intent for a richly deserved victory in 1:45.26 ahead of surprise silver medallist Bloudek (1:45.62) with Spain's Mohamed Attaoui winning a competitive scrap for bronze in 1:45.71 by a mere four-hundredths ahead of his teammate David Barroso.
With more than 10 percent of tickets sold to Irish fans, these were tantamount to a home championships as English acknowledged after the heats and the Irish tricolours were being waved with fervour by a large Irish contingent among the 20,000 spectators inside the Alexander Stadium.
Irish gold medals at the European Athletics Championships have been relatively few and far between. English becomes just the sixth Irish gold medallist in championship history and the first male athlete to win individual gold in the near 100-year history of the championships.
English also preserves his impeccable record of having won a medal in every final at the European Athletics Championships he has contested dating back to Zurich 2014 when he won bronze. His record now stands at one gold medal, one silver medal and four bronze medals across this 12-year span.
There was mild disappointment for the hosts who were hoping to come away with at least one medal from the final. Max Burgin was a late withdrawal from the final due to injury and 2023 world silver medallist Ben Pattison couldn't muster up his usual fast finish as he faded to sixth in 1:46.14.
What they said
Mark English (IRL)
"I do not even know how I feel to be honest. I think mostly I am relieved after so many silver and bronze finishes to have finally secured the gold. I did not want to finish my career without it. I was so relieved at the line I did not know what to do. I had dreamt about it but you never know whether it would become real. The championship record yesterday was great but this is what I really came for."
Marino Bloudek (CRO)
"After 52 years [when the late Luciano Susanj won the title for Yugoslavia in Rome 1974] this silver is more like a gold for me, especially with such great competition."
"I was in my training camp, visualising this moment where I get the medal. After the race now, I was wearing my flag and going into my fiancé's arms and hugging her and my coach. This was very difficult to achieve but I knew it was possible."