Gesa Felicitas Krause of Germany claims a third European title in the women’s 3000m steeplechase title at the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships on Thursday (13) evening.
Krause returns to the top of the podium having previously won this title in 2016 and 2018.
In summary
- Krause repeats her European titles from 2016 and 2018 in 9:12.69
- Defending champion Alice Finot of France takes silver
- European leader Elise Thorner just misses out on a medal
In a last lap filled with drama and dynamism, Krause held her strongest kick to last and surged clear to strike gold and match her steeplechase successes from Amsterdam in 2016 and Berlin 2018.
The 34-year-old has a silver and bronze from this event during a career at the top that dates back to 2011 and she utilised all of that experience to break the chasing pack over the closing two laps in Birmingham.
For so long it was a dense posse of eight women patiently negotiating the laps, with a quick opening kilometre in three minutes and three seconds followed by a tactical game of wait and see.
A group of five was still in contention at the bell in a slow race destined to come down to who could finish with speed and style.
Eventually Krause exploded out of the pack and only Lea Meyer and Alice Finot gave chase. But the German’s bid was undone when she stumbled out of the closing water jump with only Finot left in pursuit.
But the defending champion could not hold on with Krause smiling as she crossed the line in 9:12.69, celebrating as her training partner Olivia Gürth claimed bronze with Finot, this time, forced to settle for silver in 9:14.24.
Home hope Elise Thorner’s challenge faded on the last lap and she came in fifth in 9:18.14.
What they said
Gesa Felicitas Krause (GER)
"I'm so delighted. It's been an amazing night. I am so happy with gold again eight years since Berlin. It's been a long time, a long journey. Moments like these are what you fight for. I love the ups and downs (in the sport) because they make you great."
"Olivia (Gürth, bronze medallist) is my training partner. She kicks my butt in training all the time. It's amazing to train with her, it's a great challenge. I knew she had it in the tank today, but sometimes she doesn't quite believe it."
Alice Finot (FRA)
"I knew that the race could be one of three different scenarios - all fast, or with a fast last 1km, or just a fast last lap. But actually it seemed to be a bit of all three. I had a race plan for all three scenarios so I had to adapt to stay with the lead group."
"This is my first major race of the season as I have been struggling with injuries. I lost time in training. I knew what shape my rivals were in and I knew how I was, but I was the only one who knew how I was doing. The main injury has gone but I had not fully tested it until today."
Olivia Gürth (GER)
"I was fully concentrated on the last hurdle. Anything can happen in steeplechase and then you are just sprinting for home. I knew if I stayed in contact with the group, anything could happen. I proved in my junior races that I can sprint to the finish. But Gesa (Krause) is a completely different level. We are training partners, so I knew she would win on the last lap."