Loughborough College Athletes Shine at European U18 Athletics Championships
Wednesday 9th September 2026
Loughborough College is celebrating a remarkable summer of sporting success after a host of current learners and alumni represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the 2026 European U18 Athletics Championships in Rieti, Italy.
The prestigious competition, held in July, saw Loughborough College athletes compete among Europe's most promising young athletes, with several returning home as medallists and European champions.
Leading the charge was Freddie Rowe, who claimed the title of European U18 Champion in the 1500m, crossing the line in an impressive 3:55.33. Fellow athlete Joseph Scanes also took gold, becoming European U18 Champion in the 3000m with a personal best time of 8:09.19.
In the field events, Moyo Stumpenhusen, who also served as team captain, delivered a standout performance to become Men's Discus European Champion, throwing 64.92m and setting a new championship record.
Other medal-winning performances included:
- Magnus Riddell – Bronze medal, 800m
- Ned Scott – Silver medal, Javelin
- Oliver Downs – Bronze medal, Decathlon
- Lucia Bertacchini – Bronze medal, 400m Hurdles
Several other Loughborough College learners and alumni also produced impressive performances on the European stage, including Ethan Heggarty, Lucas Cameron, Charlie Chambers (4th in the 800m), Owen Firth, Noa Chodokufa (5th in the 400m) and Elkie Baker.
These athletes are also involved in the England Athletics Youth Talent Programme (YTP), which supports some of the country's most promising young athletes and para-athletes by providing access to specialist training, performance support and personal development whilst working towards a Diploma in Sporting Excellence.
Adding to the College's presence at the championships was Elite Sport Assessor Katie Lambert, who travelled to Italy as a throws coach for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team.
Reflecting on the experience, Katie said: "It was an incredible privilege to be part of the coaching team at the European U18 Athletics Championships and to support such talented young athletes on the international stage. I am immensely proud to have represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland as throws coach, but even more proud to see so many current Loughborough College students and alumni achieving such outstanding success. Their dedication, hard work and commitment to their sport has been rewarded with some truly fantastic performances.”
The 2026 European U18 Athletics Championships build on an exceptional summer of success for Loughborough College, which has also celebrated achievements at the U20 World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games, further reinforcing its reputation as a leading destination for sports education that combines high-quality teaching with elite sporting development.
