This summer will mark 20 years since the 3000m steeplechase was first contested at these Championships for women, and in that time only one woman has won the title twice.
That is Germany’s Gesa Felicitas Krause who won in 2016 and 2018, while also taking silver in 2024, however in order to return to the golden position she will have to beat European leader and British star - Elise Thorner.
European record - Alice Finot (FRA) 8:58.67
European lead - Elise Thorner (GBR), 9:05.45
Championship record - Luzia Gega (ALB) 9:11.31
Roma 2024 medallists
- Alice Finot (FRA), 9:16.22
- Gesa Felicitas Krause (GER), 9:18.06
- Elizabeth Bird (GBR), 9:18.39
Five names to watch:
- Elise Thorner (GBR)
- Gesa Felicitas Krause (GER)
- Lea Meyer (GER)
- Ilona Mononen (FIN)
- Clara Entresangle (FRA)
Following her silver medal winning race in 9:05.45 at the Commonwealth Games, Thorner is the favourite to win the title, especially with the British crowd roaring her on.
But Krause isn’t the only German challenger she needs to look out for, as Lea Meyer will be looking to make her way to the top of the podium after taking silver in 2022 and running the third fastest time this year.
With just four seconds separating Thorner, Krause, and Meyer, race tactics could prove to be vital in deciding the podium.
Though, they won’t have it easy in guaranteeing a medal with Finland’s Ilona Mononen, 22, and France’s Clara Entresangle, 21, having ran 9:15.18 and 9:17.88 respectively this year and looking to challenge the top three.
Mononen, who took gold at the Bergen 2025 European Athletics U23 Championships, could become the first Finnish woman to take a medal in this event if her race goes to plan in Birmingham.
The reigning champion Alice Finot will also be racing however her best time this year of 9:26.74 is off the pace of the top contenders, though it would be naïve to rule the Frenchwoman out of contention.
At just the end of July, Finot still managed to retain her French title over 3000m steeplechase despite Entresangle’s faster season’s best set at the start of July, showing that she’s in great form to race in Birmingham.
Germany’s main medal hopes may have both seen the podium at the European Athletics Championships before, but they will be joined on the start line by their countrywomen, 24-year-old Olivia Gurth, and 21-year-old Adia Budde.
Between them, it seems Germany’s tradition of strong women’s 3000m steeplechase runners will continue as we haven’t seen a podium at the European Athletics Championships without a German athlete in this event since 2010.
Budde has already found success at the age group competitions, taking silver at the U18 and U20 championships before taking bronze at Bergen 2025 at just 19-years-old, so could make a seamless transition to the senior stage this summer.