Europe had its running heroes once. Emil Zátopek, Sebastian Coe, Paula Radcliffe, Stefano Baldini. And it will again. With EuroHeroes.
A unique project that seeks, supports and develops the talents of European athletics.
Professional athletes compete in EuroHeroes competitions, earn points and fight for the EuroHero title. However, the EuroHeroes initiative is not only about supporting elite runners, but also about promoting exercise and a healthy lifestyle to the general public.
EuroHeroes is an initiative of RunCzech in cooperation with European Athletics.

Europe had its running heroes once. Emil Zátopek, Sebastian Coe, Paula Radcliffe, Stefano Baldini. And it will again. With EuroHeroes.


Jorge Blanco (ESP) wins the men’s EuroHeroes Challenge 2026, while Carolina Robles (ESP) takes the women’s title.
Khalid Choukoud (NED) and Nóra Szabó (HUN) also secured podium finishes.
The prestigious trophy was presented to Sebastian Hendel (GER) and Maryna Nemchenko (UKR).
“Tonight, we are here to celebrate a new generation of European heroes, Tereza and Sebastian. I would like to thank both of you, as well as all the other runners, for making this sport accessible to the wider public and inspiring more people to take up running,” said Vasic.
The battle for victory remained dramatic right up to the final half marathon in Ústí nad Labem, after which home favourite Tereza Hrochová (CZE) and Sebastian Hendel (GER) were crowned the winners. The 2023 trophy ceremony took place at Větruše Château in the presence of European Athletics representative Marko Vasic.
After a forced break from 2020 to 2022, the project was relaunched.
Only European athletes competed in the elite field. A total of 117 elite athletes took part in the series, with Daria Mykhailova (UKR) and Yassine Rachik (ITA) emerging as the winners. The project was named the best running initiative of 2019 by European Athletics.
A total of 67 European athletes took part in the series.