Schedule Concern & Call for Change
There has been discussion between coaches and team leaders during past weeks that there seems to be a very tight schedule planned for some events at European Athletics Championships in Birmingham in 2026. To be precise, some coaches noticed that the heats of the men's 3000m steeplechase are scheduled for August 15 - with the final scheduled to the day after, August 16.
Our mutual view is that this seems like a very tough schedule for an already tough and demanding event. One day of rest in-between the heats and the final (like in Rome 2024) or two rest days (like the women have now) seems more appropriate.
We are planning to join forces with key stakeholders (i.e., athletes, coaches, member federation representatives and leaders) and jointly send a letter to European athletics where we draw attention to how the steeplechase is scheduled and ask for a change - especially through the health perspective, but also with the aim of providing best possible performance outcomes and great results and competition.
We send out this to athletes, coaches (sometimes through their managers) that we think have interest in trying to change the schedule of European Championships 2026 in relation to M/3000mSC schedule. We welcome all feedback from you all: you can tell us that your name can be used for purposes of contacting European Athletics jointly, or may wish to comment on what exactly would be the best outcome and (potential) change of schedule. However, we note that there may not be several alternatives, and the most useful outcome would be to simply make sure that there is, at minimum, one rest day between the heats and the final in an event such as steeplechase.
Per Skoog, coach for Vidar Johansson and Leo Magnusson, Sweden