The European Athletics Championships in 2028, set to be held in Silesia, Poland, will feature a record prize fund of approximately £3m. This significant increase reflects a restructured approach to prize money, ensuring financial recognition for athletes finishing in the top eight across all 50 disciplines.
Gold medal winners will receive 30,000 euros (£25,720), while silver medallists will earn 15,000 euros (£12,860) and bronze medallists 10,000 euros (£8,573). Athletes placing fourth to eighth will also receive awards ranging from 5,000 euros down to 1,000 euros.
This new structure contrasts with the last championships in Birmingham, where a 500,000 euro (£428,000) pot was split among the top 10 performances across 10 categories, rather than a standard payout per medal position. European Athletics chief executive Christian Milz stated this decision "demonstrates our commitment" to competitors, ensuring "due recognition" for top performers.
The 2028 European Championships will take place in early June, six weeks before the Los Angeles Olympics, and will compete for athlete attention with another Ultimate Championship and a Diamond League season that year. This substantial incentive aims to attract strong fields amidst a growing landscape of lucrative athletic events.