Emmanouil Karalis vaults into European Championship final on first attempt

Greek pole vaulter Emmanouil Karalis has secured his spot in the final of the European Championships in Birmingham with a decisive first-attempt clearance at 5.60 meters. Karalis, known as 'Manolo,' strategically chose to begin his competition at this height, bypassing 5.25m and 5.40m. His decision proved sound as he cleared 5.60m cleanly on his very first try, demonstrating confidence and skill.

This successful jump was sufficient to guarantee his place in the final, making further attempts unnecessary. Karalis was among a select group of only four athletes who cleared 5.60m on their initial attempt, joining notable competitors like Armand Duplantis, Bo Kanda Lita Baehre, and Giulio Filippo. The performance highlights his strong form heading into the championship final.

While Karalis advanced with relative ease, the 5.60m mark proved challenging for many other athletes. Only ten competitors in total managed to clear this height. Among those eliminated were Thibaut Collet, who had three failed attempts at 5.60m, and Ersu Şaşma, who struggled at 5.45m.

Another Greek athlete, Giannis Rizos, did not advance to the final. The 25-year-old failed to register a mark after three unsuccessful attempts at 5.25m, mirroring his elimination from the Rome European Championships in 2024. Karalis now shifts his focus to the final, where he will compete for a medal, aiming to replicate or surpass his silver medal achievement from the previous European Championships in Rome.