By Paul Eddison, Sportsbeat
The likes of Keely Hodgkinson and Zharnel Hughes will grab the headlines, but the European Athletics Championships also offer up-and-coming athletes the chance to shine.
After all, it was on the European stage that Hodgkinson claimed her first senior outdoor gold medal – the 800m crown in Munich four years ago – while Dina Asher-Smith did the same back in 2016 in Amsterdam.
So, for the packed-out crowds expected at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, this summer’s championship represents the chance to revel not only in the best of British athletics but also get a sneak peek at the sport’s future in this country.
And to ensure that you are clued up on that next generation, we have picked out five emerging talents ready to spread their wings.
Emily Newnham (400m hurdles and 400m)
Emily Newnham insists that her priority is the 400m hurdles, although given her form over 400m this season, she clearly has the potential excel in both events.
The 22-year-old from Shaftesbury Barnet has beaten her personal best both in the hurdles and the flat this year, building on a hugely promising 2025.
She won a pair of medals at the European Indoors in the 4x400m relays before dominant displays at the European U23 Athletics Championships in Bergen saw her come away with two gold medals.
One of those came in the 400m hurdles, where she set a new championship record to finish more than a second clear of the field.
And with Dutch star Femke Broeders-Bol having made the step up to the 800m this season, Newnham will be hoping to take advantage of her absence at the head of the field.
Newnham’s personal best of 53.92, set in Madrid this year, would have been enough for silver in this event two years ago, behind only Broeders-Bol, so she could be right in the mix this time around.
Success Eduan (200m)
Given her first name, Success Eduan had no choice but to flourish once she set her mind to athletics and she has certainly lived up to it so far in her career.
The 21-year-old demonstrated her potential when she won a European U20 medal over 200m at just 17, and last year she claimed the European U23 title in style in Bergen over the same distance.
She also led home a British victory in the 4x100m at the World Relays Championships in 2025 but the moment which made everyone sit up and take notice came in 2026.
In the UK Champs in Birmingham, Eduan beat World Championship silver medallist to take the national title by more than two tenths and cement her place as one of the brightest sprinting prospects in the country.
She is now set to return to the Alexander Stadium for more of the same against the continent’s best.
Kimani Jack (high jump)
The most unlikely name on this list is Kimani Jack, who has emerged from nowhere in 2026.
A history graduate from the University of Birmingham, Jack won a pair of BUCS outdoor high jump titles and competed at the European U23s last year in Bergen.
But it is this year where he has really caught the eye, clearing 2.30m for the first time, with a personal best of 2.31m at the Torrin Lawrence Memorial in Athens, Georgia.
He followed that up by taking second on his Diamond League debut in Monaco, clearing 2.30m, and if he can manage that again in Birmingham, he should be right in the hunt for the podium.
Charlotte Henrich (400m)
At just 19 years of age, Charlotte Henrich has already set two Welsh national records over 400m, beating a mark that had previously stood for 44 years.
Henrich ran 50.58 to finish third in the UK Championships in Birmingham, before lowering that record with a run of 50.45 seconds at the Wanda Diamond League in London.
Those performances have singled Henrich out as a huge talent and while she might need to drop a couple more tenths to get into the battle for the medals, she has already shown a penchant for breaking records this season.
Innes FitzGerald (5000m)
Still only 20 years old, Innes FitzGerald has already got major championship experience under her belt after making her World Championship debut in Tokyo last September.
While she did not progress through the heats there, FitzGerald will be a strong candidate to do so in Birmingham when she races over 5000m.
As a cross-country athlete, FitzGerald already has six European U20s titles, winning individual and team gold in each of the last three years, while in Tampere last summer she won 3000m and 5000m gold at the European U20 Championships by huge distances, breaking Gabriela Szabo’s 32-year-old championship record in the former.
She will not be able to run away from the competition in Birmingham, so tactical nous maybe an advantage for her more seasoned rivals, but in terms of potential, the sky is the limit for FitzGerald.
Novuna is the Official Finance Partner of British Athletics and proud sponsor of the GB & NI Athletics Team. From everyday goals to world-class dreams, Novuna backs the ambition of millions across the UK — from supporting British businesses and individuals’ plans, to powering British Athletics on the global stage. Find out more at www.novuna.co.uk
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