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The 2026 European Modern Pentathlon Championship opened in Istanbul with relay competitions, marking the first time Türkiye has hosted the event.
The relay races took place at the Burhan Felek Sports Complex, an Istanbul venue used for major athletics events. Competitors took part in fencing, obstacle course, swimming and laser run disciplines.
Switzerland won gold in the women's relay, followed by Hungary in silver and Russia in bronze. In the men's relay, France took gold, with Lithuania placing second and Czechia third.
Türkiye finished seventh in the women's relay and 10th in the men's relay.
The championship, organized by the Turkish Modern Pentathlon Federation, runs from August 3 to 9 and serves as preparation for the 2027 European Games. A total of 67 women and 86 men are competing across individual and team categories in fencing, obstacle course, swimming and laser run.
Türkiye's roster includes seven women—Ilke Ozyuksel Mihrioglu, Sidal Aslan, Tulya Kesebir, Ebrar Caliskan, Yaren Kalender, Tuana Ozgur and Zeynep Ay—and eight men: Bugra Unal, Eren Kivanc Tasyaran, Muhammed Emir Kurtulan, Jan Demir Vurdum, Arda Meric, Ali Akaydin, Baris Dogu Celik and Mehmet Doruk Ozkan.
National athlete Ilke Ozyuksel Mihrioglu, 29, is competing for her third European Championship medal. She won bronze at the 2016 championship in Bulgaria and again at the 2017 championship in Belarus. She also took bronze in the individual and mixed relay events at the 2022 World Championship, followed by a silver medal at the 2023 World Cup Finals and bronze at the 2024 World Cup Finals.
Ozyuksel placed fifth at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and sixth at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She is seeking her first European championship title in Istanbul.
Turkish Modern Pentathlon Federation President Serhat Aydin said the event represents Türkiye's first time hosting a European senior championship in the sport and forms part of preparations for the 2027 European Games, which the country is also set to host.
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