Europeans are leading the World

European athletes have long been leaders on the global stage and it is interesting to note that with the exception of the men’s Long Jump, there has been a European athlete crowned as World Champion in every event since 1983.

Europe’s most successful event is the 50km Walk, with all ten titles being won by Europeans, followed closely by the men’s Pole Vault, Discus and Javelin which have been won by Europeans on 9 occasions.

Quite remarkably, of the nine Pole vault titles won by Europeans, six were claimed by the Sergey Bubka who held the title from 1983 until 1999. Five of the nine Discus titles were claimed by the great German Lars Riedel.

On the women’s side the most successful event has been the Discus with 9 victories by European athletes, followed by the Shot Put and 10/20km Walk.

World Championship titles won by European men:

1. 50 km walk: 10

2. Pole Vault, Discus, Javelin: 9

3. Hammer: 8

4. Triple Jump, 20 km Walk: 6

5. 800m, High Jump, Shot Put, Decathlon: 5

6. Marathon, 110m Hurdles, 4x400m relay: 3

7. Steeplechase, 400m Hurdles: 2
riedel_lars.jpg
Five-time World Discus Champion, Lars Riedel
Photo by Picture Alliance.

8. 100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, 4x100m relay: 1

9. Long jump: 0

World Championship titles won by European women:

1. Discus: 9

2. Shot Put, 10/20km Walk: 8

3. Long Jump, High Jump, 3000/5000 m, Javelin, Heptathlon: 7

4. 1500m, Marathon, 400m Hurdles, Triple Jump, 4x400m relay: 6

5. 200m: 5

6. 100m, 400m, 800m, 100m Hurdles, 4x100m relay: 4

7. 10 000m: 3

8. Pole Vault, Hammer: 2

9. Steeplechase: 0

Source/Courtesy
European Athletics (EAA)
https://www.european-athletics.org/
EAA