He was only fifth, but made it onto the podium: how Kokhan won a medal at Euro 2026
12 August 00:57
Ukrainian hammer thrower Mykhailo Kokhan won a bronze medal at the 2026 European Athletics Championships. The Ukrainian’s fifth throw of 79.49 meters proved decisive, allowing him to climb from outside the medal standings to third place. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.
Mykhailo Kokhan won the bronze medal at the European Athletics Championships, which are being held in Birmingham. The Ukrainian finished the men’s hammer throw final with a distance of 79.49 meters.
The results of the final were published on the official European Athletics platform.
The gold medal was won by Hungary’s Bence Galász. He threw the hammer 84.25 meters, setting a national record and achieving the world’s best result of the season. Merlin Hummel of Germany took second place with a throw of 81.30 meters.
How Kokhan Won the Bronze Medal
The start of the final was not easy for the Ukrainian athlete. After the first three rounds, he was in fifth place and remained outside the medal zone.
Kokhan’s first valid throw measured 78.70 meters. That was enough to keep him in the competition after three attempts, but not enough for a spot on the podium.
The situation changed in the fifth round. Kokhan added 79 centimeters to his previous result and threw the hammer 79.49 meters. This moved him up to third place.
The final round did not change the standings. The Ukrainian’s rivals were unable to surpass his result, and Kochan himself secured the bronze medal.
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Thus, the penultimate attempt in the competition proved to be the one that earned the Ukrainian athlete a medal.
Results of the Euro 2026 Final
| Place | Athlete | Country | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galaš Bencze | Hungary | 84.25 m |
| 2 | Merlin Hummel | Germany | 81.30 m |
| 3 | Mykhailo Kokhan | Ukraine | 79.49 m |
The winner finished 4.76 meters ahead of Kokhan. The Ukrainian was 1.81 meters short of the silver medal.
Kokhan finished third at the European Championships for the second time in a row
For Mykhailo Kokhan, this is his second consecutive bronze medal at the European Senior Championships. In 2024 in Rome, he also finished third in the final with a throw of 80.18 meters.
Thus, the Ukrainian has maintained his place among the continent’s top hammer throwers and has stood on the European podium for the second time in two years.
Before the final in Birmingham, Kokhan placed fourth in the qualifying round. On his second attempt, he threw 77.40 meters, which was enough to secure his spot in the final round.
What are Mykhailo Kokhan’s major medals?
Kokhan is one of the most successful Ukrainian track and field athletes of the current generation. Among his major achievements are:
- bronze at the 2024 Olympic Games;
- a bronze medal at the 2024 European Championships;
- a bronze medal at the 2026 European Championships;
- victories at international junior and youth championships;
- a personal best of 81.66 meters, set in 2025.
His result in Birmingham was 2.17 meters short of his personal best, but it was enough to earn him yet another major international award.
According to the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, Mykhailo Kokhan’s bronze medal was the first medal won by the Ukrainian national team at the 2026 European Athletics Championships.
The continental championship is taking place in Birmingham, UK, from August 10 to 16. Over the course of seven days of competition, athletes are competing for medals in running, jumping, and throwing events, as well as in race walking. Ukraine is represented at the tournament by 25 athletes.
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