{"id":253236,"date":"2026-08-17T19:07:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T19:07:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/253236\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T19:07:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T19:07:17","slug":"israeli-marathon-runners-win-team-gold-at-european-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/253236\/","title":{"rendered":"Israeli marathon runners win team gold, at European Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"

Israel\u2019s marathon runners pleasantly surprised this weekend by delivering another memorable performance at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham<\/a>, returning home with a team gold medal and an individual bronze medal for Gashau Ayale in what has become a hallmark display of Israeli strength in long-distance running.<\/p>\n

Ayale crossed the finish line in third place in 2:09:21, matching the bronze medal he won at the 2022 European Championships. More importantly, alongside Tadesse Getahon, who finished fifth, and Haimro Alame, who came home eighth, he helped Israel secure the men\u2019s team title ahead of Germany in one of the most dramatic races of the championships.<\/p>\n

The gold medal was decided deep into the final kilometers of the marathon, as Israel\u2019s runners outlasted their German rivals to claim the European crown. Additional Israeli runners Yitayaw Abuhay finished 12th, Maru Teferi 22nd and Bukayo Malada 34th.<\/p>\n

Ayale’s patient race pays off with European bronze<\/p>\n

For Ayale, the result was the reward for months of preparation and belief.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on my training, I felt it was possible because I worked hard and spent a month and a half in training camp,\u201d Ayale said after the race. \u201cBut I wasn\u2019t sure it would happen because everyone comes to give their best. In my mind, I knew I could prove otherwise, and I\u2019m happy I succeeded.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Israel'sIsrael’s Maru Teferi (C) and Italian Iliass Aouani (R) compete in the marathon race at the European Running Championships in Brussels on April 13, 2025. (credit: JILL DELSAUX\/Belga\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The challenging Birmingham course demanded patience and discipline.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe course wasn\u2019t simple,\u201d Ayale explained. \u201cAs the race developed, we started to understand it better. I knew where to push and where to ease off, and in the end it paid off when I reached third place.\u201d<\/p>\n

At one stage, Ayale appeared to lose contact with the lead group, but he remained committed to his own strategy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe race wasn\u2019t run at an even pace. They kept speeding up and slowing down. I knew I wouldn\u2019t be able to match those changes, so I preferred to run my own race by feel. In the end, I closed the gap that opened up.\u201d<\/p>\n

The decisive move came after the 30-kilometer mark.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt kilometer 30 or 31, I saw the group and felt I had the strength to catch them. I closed the gap around kilometer 37 or 38 and saw that some of them were on their last legs. I sat behind them, and in the final kilometer I gave everything I had.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ayale closes the gap in pursuit of bronze<\/p>\n

That was also the moment he sensed a medal was within reach.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I realized the others didn\u2019t have a finishing kick. In the final kilometer I increased the pace and pushed. When I saw some of them couldn\u2019t respond, I understood I was going to be on the podium.\u201d<\/p>\n

Israeli teamwork proves decisive against Germany<\/p>\n

While Ayale celebrated his individual success, he repeatedly emphasized that the team victory meant even more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was happier about the team achievement than the personal one,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was important to me because we were head-to-head with the Germans and we really wanted to beat them. We came to win the team competition, and the battle was between them and us throughout the race.\u201d<\/p>\n

The turning point came when the Israelis recognized that Germany\u2019s supporting runners were beginning to fade.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring the race I was further back, but when I got to 37 kilometers at a good pace and saw their third runner was exhausted, I identified the opportunity to attack them, and we all started increasing the pace. It worked.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ayale later revealed how the Israeli runners worked together in the closing stages.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I joined the group, there were three Israelis and three Germans, with one German already ahead. It became a psychological game. We decided to push together to show them we still had strength while the others were using their last reserves. The goal was to bring home the team gold.\u201d<\/p>\n

That teamwork has become a defining feature of Israeli distance running, which has established itself as one of Europe\u2019s strongest marathon programs in recent years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat makes Israel such a running powerhouse?\u201d Ayale asked rhetorically. \u201cHard work, self-discipline and mutual support. We spend a month and a half together in training camps. We\u2019re good friends and very connected. When runners<\/a> encourage one another, and the best athlete wins, it works.\u201d<\/p>\n

Israeli women finish seventh in Birmingham<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s women\u2019s team also produced a respectable showing, finishing seventh overall. Selamawit Teferi led the Israeli women in 11th place with a time of 2:28:26, followed closely by Maor Tiyouri in 12th with 2:30:17. Minitamar Bikaya finished 46th in a season-best 2:50:29.<\/p>\n

For Ayale, however, one of the most meaningful moments came after the race, draped in the Israeli flag.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an amazing feeling,\u201d he said. \u201cTo have the opportunity to take the flag, run with it, and raise it in a country that doesn\u2019t always love you. It gives you motivation, and it\u2019s the most amazing feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also used the occasion to thank supporters back home.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst of all, I want to thank the people of Israel for giving us the opportunity to represent you with honor. It\u2019s a great privilege for us. I\u2019m very happy to have won another medal at the European Championships, and I want to dedicate my medal to all the people of Israel. I love you very much, and we\u2019ll see you again next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the team following the victory, calling the achievement historic.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur athletes demonstrated determination, dedication and exceptional teamwork that brought immense honor and a source of national pride to the State of Israel,\u201d Netanyahu<\/a> said.<\/p>\n

As for what comes next, Ayale\u2019s ambitions remain as high as ever.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt my first World Championships in Tokyo<\/a>, I gained experience and finished seventh,\u201d he said. \u201cI always aim as high as possible, and I hope to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Israel\u2019s marathon runners pleasantly surprised this weekend by delivering another memorable performance at the European Athletics Championships in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":253237,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[33],"tags":[37,8464,53289,27496,21280],"class_list":["post-253236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-israel","tag-israel","tag-israeli-sports","tag-marathon","tag-medal","tag-running"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@iran\/117112422337299623","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=253236"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253236\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/253237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=253236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=253236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=253236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}