Niklas Kaul Aims for Strong Performance at European Championships
Decathlete Niklas Kaul, a former world and European champion, is preparing for the Leichtathletik-EM 2026 in Birmingham. He aims for a "clean, good competition" and potentially more points than his previous performance in Götzis.
Key takeaways
- Niklas Kaul, a former world and European decathlon champion, is competing in the Leichtathletik-EM 2026 in Birmingham.
- Kaul is aiming for a strong performance and potentially a higher score than his recent 8,528 points from Götzis.
- He has addressed minor hamstring issues but acknowledges a remaining training deficit.
- The decathlon competition is set to start on Wednesday with the 100-meter sprint.
German decathlete Niklas Kaul expressed his readiness for the upcoming European Athletics Championships 2026 in Birmingham. The 28-year-old athlete, who has previously secured both world and European titles, stated he feels in good form despite minor preparation setbacks.
Kaul noted that while his training is complete, he anticipates the competition to begin. He described the venue in Birmingham as a good facility but highlighted its open structure, making it susceptible to wind, a factor he experienced in the days leading up to the event.
What Happened
Niklas Kaul is set to compete in the decathlon at the Leichtathletik-EM 2026 in Birmingham. He indicated that the competition is scheduled to start with the 100-meter sprint at 10:35 AM on Wednesday. Kaul has set modest goals, aiming for a strong performance rather than specific medal targets, and hopes for favorable conditions.
Background
Kaul, a native of Mainz and representing USC Mainz, has faced minor issues with his hamstring during preparation, limiting his sprint and long jump training. He confirmed that other disciplines, including throws, the 400 meters, high jump, pole vault, and hurdle events, are performing well and that his hamstring is no longer a concern, though a training deficit remains.
In May, Kaul achieved third place at the athletics meeting in Götzis, scoring 8,528 points. He is targeting a performance exceeding this score in Birmingham, provided the weather conditions, particularly wind, allow.
Key Facts
- Niklas Kaul, a former World Champion (2019) and European Champion (2022) in decathlon, is participating in the Leichtathletik-EM 2026.
- The event is taking place in Birmingham, England.
- Kaul reported feeling in good form but mentioned a prior issue with his hamstring that affected his sprint and long jump training.
- He achieved 8,528 points and third place at the Götzis athletics meeting in May.
- The decathlon competition begins on Wednesday at 10:35 AM with the 100-meter sprint.
- Kaul described the Birmingham stadium as very open and potentially windy.
- His stated goals include achieving more points than in Götzis and having a "clean, good competition" that he enjoys.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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