European Athletics Championships: France wins 10th medal with Kpatcha's long jump bronze

Hilary Kpatcha secured the European bronze medal in the long jump on Sunday in Birmingham, adding France's tenth medal to their tally at the championships. The 28-year-old athlete achieved a jump of 6.98 meters on her second attempt in a highly competitive final, which was won by Italy's Larissa Iapichino with 7.00 meters. Great Britain's Jazmin Sawyers took silver with 6.99 meters.

Kpatcha, who was a frustrating fourth at the 2025 Tokyo World Championships, delivered a strong performance in a field described as having exceptional density. This bronze medal is her first international success, coming after a challenging period following her disappointing 11th-place finish at the 2024 Olympics. After that event, she left her training group in Toulouse without immediate plans.

"Tokyo was something necessary. It's part of my journey and it's 'OK'," Kpatcha had stated before the Birmingham competition. "Now, I feel I have more tools to go into the fight." She demonstrated effectiveness from the start with an initial jump of 6.83 meters, moving into second place provisionally with her 6.98-meter jump. She then saw Sawyers surpass her mark.

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Tokyo was something necessary. It's part of my journey and it's 'OK'. Now, I feel I have more tools to go into the fight.

Despite the pressure of potentially being overtaken, as happened in Tokyo, Kpatcha held on for a medal. The favorite, Germany's Malaika Mihambo, had an off-day and could not contend for the podium, finishing fifth with 6.94 meters. This achievement comes after months without significant physical activity, during which Renaud Longuèvre, the current sprint and hurdles coach in the Netherlands, coordinated her training remotely with former long jumper Kafétien Gomis and hurdler Ladji Doucouré based at the Insep.

"This work is starting to pay off, I'm beginning to feel things more," Kpatcha had said just before Birmingham, having already jumped 6.98 meters in late July, close to her personal best of 7.02 meters set in 2025. "I feel much more in control of what I'm doing," she added. Her third-place finish brings France's tenth medal, though the delegation's overall performance at the Euro has been considered disappointing, with three silver and six bronze medals so far.

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This work is starting to pay off, I'm beginning to feel things more. I feel much more in control of what I'm doing.