Spain’s two reigning triple-jump champions were missing when the European Athletics Championships began in Birmingham. The championships were held at Alexander Stadium from August 10 to 16, 2026, following the 2024 edition in Rome, where Jordan Díaz and Ana Peleteiro won the men’s and women’s titles. Their absence left Spain without the athletes who had claimed both triple-jump gold medals at the previous championships.
Díaz, the Cuban-born Olympic champion, missed the Birmingham competition amid continuing difficulties. Plans for him to move to Arkansas fell through because of visa complications and other setbacks. Uncertainty over his training base and reduced financial support added to the disruption. Díaz had held an Olympic Scholarship A after winning gold at the Paris 2024 Games, but losing performance incentives affected his support. His absence dealt a major blow to Spain’s medal prospects.
Peleteiro, 30, was also away from competition after giving birth to her second child, León, in July 2026. She has started preparing to return to athletics, but her recovery is gradual and she has no confirmed competition date. El Periódico reported that she had not set an official date for her return. Clarín reported that she had lost 14 kilograms in the first three months after childbirth and was continuing her physical recovery. After the birth of her first child, Peleteiro returned to training about six months later.
Peleteiro has expressed the ambition to compete at the European Indoor Championships in Valencia in March 2027, around eight months after León’s birth. She began light training 13 days after giving birth, and her husband and coach, Benjamín Compaoré, is helping plan her comeback. The target reflects her intention to return, while her competition schedule will depend on her recovery. The Spanish jumper, a bronze medallist at Tokyo 2020, is also looking toward the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic cycles.
In the women’s triple jump, the national marks cited for the season were 13.49 metres by 18-year-old Ana Estrella de León and 13.37 metres by Elda Romeva. The article’s figures placed de León 63rd in Europe. Romania’s Diana Maria Ion and Dominica’s Thea LaFond were among the international competitors with stronger marks. Venezuela’s world-record holder Yulimar Rojas was also part of the wider global picture. The gap underlined the challenge facing Spain as it looks to develop new contenders alongside Peleteiro’s planned return.
The absence of both reigning champions also draws attention to the particular demands of elite technical events, where a small number of athletes can account for a large share of a team’s medal potential. Maternity and the practical conditions needed to train and compete can shape an athlete’s career alongside results on the track. Spain’s challenge is to strengthen its next generation of triple jumpers while supporting Peleteiro’s return. International sporting tensions have also made headlines, including the diplomatic dispute between Spain and France ahead of the World Cup semifinal.
