Emmanouil Karalis secures silver medal at European Athletics Championships

Greek pole vaulter Emmanouil Karalis won the silver medal at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, concluding his competition on August 16, 2026. Karalis cleared a height of 6.00 meters during the final, marking a significant milestone in his career. The gold medal was claimed by Armand Duplantis, who cleared 6.15 meters. While Karalis attempted to challenge Duplantis by setting the bar at 6.10, 6.15, and 6.20 meters, he ultimately secured second place on the podium.

Prior to the final, Karalis had cruised through the qualification round on August 14 by clearing 5.60 meters on his first attempt. During the event, he also garnered attention for his lighthearted camaraderie with teammate Miltiadis Tentoglou, jokingly referencing an incident where the long jumper had forgotten his own gold medal. Another Greek athlete, Giannis Rizos, competed in the qualifications but was eliminated after failing to clear 5.25 meters.

This performance further cements Karalis's status as a top-tier international athlete. For Duplantis, the victory marked his fourth gold medal at a European Championship, extending his dominant streak in major athletics events.