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The first-draft European Championships entry list has been released. The WLHOUSE team will be in Batumi, Georgia, for the event beginning on Apr. 19.
- When: Apr. 19 - 27
- Where: Batumi, Georgia (GMT+4)
- Watch: WLHOUSE TV
Based on the current entry list, Euros ‘26 is a powder keg—veterans make their comebacks, and new rivalries take shape.
2026 European Championships: Final Entries
The final entry list for the 2026 European Weightlifting Championships was published on Mar. 23. These are the relevant updates.
Men
- Yigit Erdogan & Ramazan Yilmaz, both 17, are debuting in the 60KG division for Turkey. They're in at 274 and 273, respectively.
- Yahor Papou (AIN) has leapt from 5th to 2nd with +15KG on his entry at 71. He's in at 335; his international best is 294.
- Ritvars Suharevs (LAT) appears to have pulled out of the competition.
- Hristo Hristov (BUL) has bumped his 110KG entry from 390 to 405, a total he hasn't beaten since the Tokyo Olympics.
Team Armenia tops half of the Mens' classes and has athletes in the top three in every category except 65KG.
Women
- Kamila Konotop (UKR) is back and has bumped her entry total, indicating a successful competition prep cycle. She'll duel younger teammate Olha Ivzhenko in the W58s.
- Nuray Gungor (TUR) leads the W69s, but has dropped her total from 245 to 240.
- Celia Gold (ISR) was initially the number-two entrant at 77 with 240, but has backpedaled to 232.
- A clerical error in the W86s was corrected—Kaitlin Saunders (NIR), who entered with 320, has now declared 191. Hailing from Northern Ireland, she's one of 46 guest athletes from nations like Wales, Scotland, or territories like Gibraltar.
Team Turkey is set to dominate the Womens' divisions, with athletes atop half of the weight categories—and either second or third in all but two.
Remember: Entry totals are not necessarily indicative of performance. Athletes can adjust on the day, but must declare opening lifts that total within 20KG of their declared entry.
2026 European Weightlifting Championships: First Look
Editor's Note (25 Mar.): Some of the information below was based on a previous version of the European Weightlifting Championships entry list.
The preliminary entry list is seldom 100% accurate to who steps on stage. Things can change between now and April.
We’ll take a closer look and provide specifics about our coverage on social media and WLHOUSE TV in the coming weeks. Until then, here are some of the noteworthy athletes and battles on the horizon:
Men
Sergio Massidda (ITA) is back at 65, facing Muhammed Ozbek (TUR) and Ivan Dimov (BUL).
Marin Robu (ROU) will meet Antonino Pizzolato (ITA) for the first time since Paris.
Kianoush Rostami (KOS) faces Artem Okulov (AIN) for the first time since 2015.
Timur Naniev (AIN) returns as a super-heavyweight with a 415KG entry.
Varazdat Lalayan (ARM) comfortably leads the supers by 25KG.
Women
Giulias Imperio & Miserendino (ITA) are both back after suffering injuries during Paris qualification.
Mihaela Cambei (ROU) will face Nina Sterckx (BEL), Ludovica Delia (ITA), and Cansel Ozkan (TUR) in the 53s.
Kamila Konotop (UKR) is back in the 58s after a nearly two-year hiatus.
- Janette Ylisoini (FIN) leads the 77s with a 250KG entry total.
