EM Birmingham: Lückenkemper wins Mixed Relay silver

Running alongside Lückenkemper for the German team were Rebekka Haase, Owen Ansah, and Amy Hunt. The four fought their way through the mixed race and secured another medal for the German Athletics Federation at the continental championships. This means a European Championships that had become disappointing for Lückenkemper at times ends on a reconciling note.

Second Medal for Kranz and Gussmann

Already on Saturday, Kevin Kranz and Heiko Gussmann had delivered a German medal in the Birmingham stadium. The duo won silver in the men's 4x100-meter relay. For Kranz and Gussmann, it is the second medal at the European Championships in Birmingham, as a team spokesperson explained: „Für Kranz und Gussmann ist es schon die zweite Medaille in Birmingham nach Silber mit der 4x100-Meter-Staffel der Männer am Samstag."

With her appearance in the mixed relay, Lückenkemper puts a final point under a European Championship week that was a rollercoaster ride for her. The early exit in the individual event, the setback with the women's relay, and now the podium finish in the mixed competition demonstrate the versatility of an athlete who, by her own account, primarily wanted to learn in Birmingham.

Significance of the Mixed Relay

In the mixed relay competition, two women and two men per nation take part. The discipline is considered a comparatively young format at international championships and has gained profile at recent major events. With the German quartet in Birmingham, a team came together that appeared well-coordinated over several stages of preparation.

Lückenkemper has been one of the defining sprint personalities of the German federation for years. After injuries and fluctuations in form in earlier seasons, she had used the 2026 European Championships as a benchmark. The semifinal exit over 100 meters was soberly classified by the team as a sporting setback, while the silver medal with the mixed quartet was credited as a collective success.

Looking Ahead to the Next Tasks

For the German Athletics Federation, the result in Birmingham means another medal in an already successful week. In addition to the silver medals from Lückenkemper, Kranz, and Gussmann, other athletes had previously delivered podium finishes or final appearances. The record underscores the breadth of the German team at continental championships.

Attention now turns to upcoming international assignments. After the European Championships, further competitions on the World Championships calendar await the German sprint group, at which Lückenkemper, Kranz, and Gussmann want to demonstrate their form. In Birmingham, they have shown, in the words of the team leader, that they can deliver even after setbacks.