The women's 100m hurdles promises to be one of the quickest and most competitive events of Birmingham 2026 as reigning world champion Ditaji Kambundji looks to take the final step up the podium after winning bronze in Munich 2022 and silver in Roma 2024.
The Swiss star reached the summit of sprint hurdling with a stunning victory at last year's World Athletics Championships but arrives in Birmingham having yet to reproduce that level of form this season as she has struggled with a hamstring injury. Even so, her championship pedigree makes her the woman to beat.
Standing in her way are her long-term rivals and two of Europe's most accomplished championship performers.
Poland's Pia Skrzyszowska and the Netherlands' Nadine Visser have shared many of the continent's biggest sprint hurdles honours in recent years, setting the stage for another fascinating battle between Europe's established elite.
Defending champion Cyréna Samba-Mayela, who followed her European title in Rome with Olympic silver in Paris in 2024, misses Birmingham 2026 through injury after being unable to recapture that form over the past two seasons. Her absence guarantees a new champion, but the quality at the top of the field remains exceptionally high.
European record – Yordanka Donkova (BUL) 12.21
European lead – Nadine Visser (NED) 12.41
Championships record – Cyréna Samba-Mayela (FRA) 12.31
Roma 2024 medallists:
1. Cyréna Samba-Mayela (FRA), 12.31
2. Ditaji Kambundji (SUI), 12.40
3. Pia Skrzyszowska (POL), 12.42
Five names to watch:
- Ditaji Kambundji (SUI)
- Pia Skrzyszowska (POL)
- Nadine Visser (NED)
- Luca Kozák (HUN)
- Laeticia Bapté (FRA)
Ditaji Kambundji has emerged as the standard-bearer for European sprint hurdling.
After taking silver behind Samba-Mayela in Rome in 2024, she enjoyed a spectacular 2025, winning the European indoor 60m hurdles title in a European record of 7.67 before adding gold at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
While she has yet to reach those heights in 2026, few athletes combine her speed and technical consistency when championship medals are at stake.
Few athletes have displayed the longevity of Nadine Visser. The Dutchwoman is a two-time European indoor champion and two-time World Athletics Indoor Championships medallist, and she arrives in Birmingham as the European leader after running 12.41 this season.
Still one of the quickest starters in the event, the 31-year-old has every opportunity to finally add an outdoor gold medal to her impressive collection.
Roma 2024 bronze medallist Pia Skrzyszowska has established herself as one of Europe's most reliable championship performers.
The Pole claimed the European outdoor title in Munich in 2022 and has also won two bronze medals at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, along with a European indoor bronze.
She arrives knowing another European outdoor medal is well within her grasp.
Hungary's Luca Kozák and France's Laeticia Bapté have established themselves among Europe's leading sprint hurdlers and possess the speed to capitalise should the favourites falter.
Kambundji may hold the world title, but Birmingham promises to be far from a coronation.
With Skrzyszowska chasing a second outdoor crown, Visser enjoying the strongest start to the season, and a talented supporting cast ready to seize their opportunity, the women's 100m hurdles looks set to produce another memorable final.