Andreas Almgren Eyes Gold at 2026 World Half Marathon Championship in Copenhagen

Swedish runner Andreas Almgren is set to compete in the 2026 World Half Marathon Championship held in Copenhagen this Sunday, with high ambitions of securing the gold medal. Almgren, who recently won the European 10,000 meters title in Birmingham, has shifted his focus to road running, skipping the 5,000 meters at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest to prioritize the half marathon. He expressed excitement about the event, calling it “so cool” and stated, "I will run to try to take a gold medal."

Almgren arrives in better shape compared to last year when he set the European record of 58:41 in Valencia. After the half marathon, he plans to prepare for his marathon debut in New York on November 1. The Copenhagen event is a major celebration of running, featuring three official world championships in road running and expecting around 65,000 participants. The competition schedule includes women's and men’s mile races along with 5-kilometer races on Saturday, followed by the half marathons on Sunday, with the women's race starting at 09:10 and the men's at 09:45.

The event also witnessed notable performances such as Robert Farken’s gold medal win and near world record debut. The championships’ festive atmosphere and high stakes mark an important moment for Almgren and Swedish athletics on the world stage.