On August 14, 2026, in Birmingham, UK, during the European Athletics Championships, an event occurred that can be described as historic for the Ukrainian school of pole vaulting. Oleksandr Onufriev, a 24-year-old athlete from the Ukrainian national team, successfully cleared the qualifying barrier and advanced to the tournament final. This result was not just a personal victory for the athlete but a landmark moment for the entire national team, breaking a streak of failures that had lasted for more than a decade and a half.
Dramatic Qualification Final and Tournament Sensations
The qualifying round in Birmingham turned into a true test of nerves. To qualify directly for the final, athletes needed to clear a height of 5.80 meters or finish among the top 12 based on the selection results. Oleksandr Onufriev chose a strategy of conserving energy: he confidently cleared the bar at the 5.45-meter mark on his first attempt. However, at a height of 5.60 meters, the Ukrainian athlete made two unsuccessful attempts, and his fate hung in the balance.
The decisive moment arrived at the very end of the qualification. In the fight for the last spot in the final, Onufriev's fate was decided thanks to an error by his opponent — the Dutchman Weno Muna. It was the Dutchman's miss that allowed the Ukrainian to round out the dozen of qualified participants. Notably, Muna, who was one of the favorites, could not continue the fight, which became one of the main sensations of the day.
Historical Context: 14 Years of Waiting
Oleksandr Onufriev's entry into the European Championship final has colossal historical significance. This event broke a 14-year streak of no finals for Ukraine in men's pole vault at continental championships. The last time a Ukrainian athlete reached the decisive stage was in 2012 in Helsinki. Then, Maksym Mazuryk fought for the honor of the country, taking eighth place in the final. The long absence of Ukrainian jumpers at this stage of the tournament raised concerns about the future of the discipline in the country, however, Onufriev's result in Birmingham restored hope for the revival of the school.
Strongest Rivals and the Upcoming Final
In the final, which will take place on Sunday, August 16, Oleksandr Onufriev will have to fight against the strongest athletes on the continent. Among them is the reigning world record holder, Swede Armand Duplantis, who is traditionally the main favorite of any tournament. The final will also feature stars who did not fail in the qualification, such as representatives of France and other European powers. The start of the sector is scheduled for 21:30 Kyiv time. The decisive round will be broadcast live by regional channels of "Suspilne" and the "Suspilne Sport" platform.
Contradictory Data
In the context of the qualification, there are discrepancies in the perception of the results of some athletes' performances. On the one hand, official protocols record the failure of favorites such as Ersu Şaşma (Turkey) and Thibaut Collet (France), who was previously a finalist at the 2025 World Championships. On the other hand, some preliminary reports mentioned that Collet might have made it to the final on additional attempts, however, the final list confirmed his elimination. It is also worth noting that the result of the Ukrainian Vladyslav Malokhin (5.25 m, 21st place) was considered a failure, however, the athlete himself in an interview after the qualification noted that this result is his personal season record, which creates a different perspective on the assessment of his performance.
Overall Success of the Ukrainian Team in Birmingham
The success of Oleksandr Onufriev is not an isolated event. Earlier, Ukrainian high jumpers Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Anastasiia Heraschenko also triumphantly advanced to the final of the 2026 European Championships. This indicates that the Ukrainian school of jumping disciplines is experiencing a period of recovery and strengthening its positions on the international arena, despite the difficult external circumstances of recent years.
