Turkey to break record with 50 athletes at European Athletics Championships

The national athletics team will compete at the European Athletics Championships with a total of 50 athletes, 31 men and 19 women. This will be Turkey's highest participation in the history of the championships.

Scraper SystemAugust 02, 2026, 11:05 AM

Turkey to break record with 50 athletes at European Athletics Championships

According to the Turkish Athletics Federation, the national team will compete at the 2026 European Athletics Championships with a total of 50 athletes, 31 men and 19 women.

This participation marks a record for Turkey in the history of the European Athletics Championships. The previous highest number was 46 athletes in 2016.

Participation Numbers by Year

Turkey first appeared at the championships in 1950 and has taken part in all editions except 1974. The participation numbers by year are as follows:

1950: 10
1954: 16
1958: 5
1962: 10
1966: 10
1969: 10
1971: 9
1978: 5
1982: 2
1986: 6
1990: 8
1994: 6
1998: 11
2002: 8
2006: 15
2010: 21
2012: 41
2014: 31
2016: 46
2018: 39
2022: 39
2024: 44
2026: 50

Medal Record

Turkey has won a total of 33 medals at the European Athletics Championships to date: 12 gold, 10 silver, and 11 bronze.

Gold Medals

2002 – Süreyya Ayhan (1500 metres)
2010 – Nevin Yanıt (100 metres hurdles)
2010 – Elvan Abeylegesse (5000 metres)
2010 – Elvan Abeylegesse (10,000 metres)
2012 – Gülcan Mıngır (3000 metres steeplechase)
2012 – Polat Kemboi Arıkan (10,000 metres)
2016 – Polat Kemboi Arıkan (10,000 metres)
2016 – Yasmani Copello Escobar (400 metres hurdles)
2016 – Yasemin Can (5000 metres)
2016 – Yasemin Can (10,000 metres)
2018 – Ramil Guliyev (200 metres)
2022 – Yasemin Can (10,000 metres)

Silver Medals

2012 – Tarık Langat Akdağ (3000 metres steeplechase)
2016 – Jak Ali Harvey (100 metres)
2016 – Ramil Guliyev (200 metres)
2016 – Aras Kaya (3000 metres steeplechase)
2016 – Ali Kaya (10,000 metres)
2016 – Kaan Kigen Özbilen (half marathon)
2018 – Yasmani Copello Escobar (400 metres hurdles)
2018 – Emre Zafer Barnes, Jak Ali Harvey, Yiğitcan Hekimoğlu, Ramil Guliyev (men's 4x100 metres relay)
2022 – Yasemin Can (5000 metres)
2024 – Tuğba Danışmaz (triple jump)

Bronze Medals

1950 – Ruhi Sarıalp (triple jump)
2006 – Elvan Abeylegesse (5000 metres)
2012 – Polat Kemboi Arıkan (5000 metres)
2014 – Ali Kaya (10,000 metres)
2016 – Özlem Kaya (3000 metres steeplechase)
2016 – Emel Dereli (shot put)
2016 – Esma Aydemir, Sultan Haydar, Sevilay Eytemiş, Yasemin Can, Meryem Erdoğan (women's half marathon team)
2018 – Jak Ali Harvey (100 metres)
2018 – Yasemin Can (5000 metres)
2022 – Yasmani Copello Escobar (400 metres hurdles)
2024 – Ersu Şaşma (pole vault)