Weber throws 90.40m on final attempt to win European javelin gold, Thumm takes silver in German one-two

German one-two in Birmingham

Julian Weber reclaimed the European javelin title at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, throwing 90.40 meters on his final attempt to secure gold. The 31-year-old sports soldier from Mainz, who previously won gold at the 2022 home European Championships in Munich, overcame a season disrupted by shoulder problems to deliver when it mattered most. Nick Thumm, a 21-year-old from Stuttgart making his European Championship debut, took silver with a personal best of 83.76 meters, completing a German one-two finish. The medals were the 13th and 14th for the German team at these championships. Bronze went to Latvia's Patriks Gailums with 82.97 meters, one centimeter ahead of Poland's Dawid Wegner.

A season built from scratch

Weber's path to Birmingham was far from straightforward. Shoulder problems plagued him throughout the season, and he could not throw properly for an extended period. He did not begin competing until mid-July, when he appeared at a meeting in Lucerne, Switzerland, and threw 87.04 meters to immediately claim the top spot on the European year-best list. The late start meant Weber arrived in Birmingham with fewer competition throws than most of his rivals, but also with fresh energy. In Birmingham, Weber qualified for the final on his first attempt, conserving valuable energy for the medal round. His championship record includes gold at the 2022 home European Championships in Munich and silver at the 2024 European Championships in Rome. At World Championships and Olympic Games, however, the native of Mainz has yet to win his first medal. He had traveled to major championships as a favorite before, including last year's World Championships in Tokyo, but frequently fell short of the podium.

How the final unfolded

Weber grabbed the lead in the first round with 83.71 meters and held it for much of the competition. Thumm opened with 81.10 meters and trailed in the chasing pack before surging ahead. According to one source, Thumm took the lead in the fourth round; another places the change in the fifth attempt. Either way, the 21-year-old displaced Weber from the top spot, setting up a decisive final throw. Weber kept his composure and responded in his last attempt with 90.40 meters to reclaim the lead and secure his second European title, winning clearly ahead of his teammate.

Medal distances and the field

Thumm's silver mark of 83.76 meters was a personal best for the 21-year-old at his first European Championship. Gailums's bronze of 82.97 meters edged out Wegner by a single centimeter. Rio Olympic champion and former European champion Thomas Röhler, from Jena, was eliminated in the qualification round and did not reach the final. The German duo's one-two finish gave Germany two of the three podium spots.

What comes next

Beyond the track, Weber has another personal milestone approaching: his wedding to his fiancée. The German javelin duo's performance in Birmingham adds to a strong team showing at the championships, with 14 medals secured by the German squad so far. For Thumm, the silver at 21 came in his first European Championship appearance. Weber's second European title comes four years after his first, which he won at the home European Championships in Munich.