Vanessa Kamga secures historic bronze in women's discus at 2026 European Championships

Vanessa Kamga made history at the 2026 European Athletics Championships by winning the first Swedish women's discus medal at a major international championship since 1928. Kamga claimed the bronze with a personal best throw of 64.61 meters in the fourth round of the competition held at Alexander Stadium, solidifying her place on the podium in a highly competitive field.

Ranked just 28th before the event, Kamga opened strong with a 63.66-meter throw and improved to 64.39 meters on her second attempt before achieving her best throw, which secured the bronze finish. The gold medal was won by Jorinde van Klinken from the Netherlands with a throw of 67.67 meters, while Germany's Shanice Craft took silver with 65.72 meters. Kamga's compatriot Caisa-Marie Lindfors finished seventh with a throw of 62.39 meters.

Kamga's historic bronze is the first for a Swedish woman in discus since Ruth Svedberg claimed bronze at the 1928 Olympics with a throw of 35.92 meters, ending a 98-year medal drought for Sweden in women's discus at major championships. Kamga joyfully described the moment as "euphoric and magical," saying, "Fan vad sjukt!" and emphasized her hard work leading up to the event: "Jag har slitit som ett djur för att få lite stål om halsen och det känns asgött."

Her sister Patricia, also an aspiring discus thrower, celebrated alongside her, highlighting the shared pride and journey in the sport. Kamga stated she focused on delivering her best performance when it mattered most and expressed immense pride in her achievement.

This milestone adds to Sweden's medal tally at the European Championships, which includes Wictor Petersson's bronze in men's shot put. Kamga's breakthrough performance shines a spotlight on Swedish women's athletics, rekindling hope and enthusiasm for future international competitions.