The importance of the European Games for athletes’ progress is emphasised by the more than 230 gold medallists from last year’s Games in Kraków-Małopolska striving for further success at the Olympic Games in Paris.

The third edition of the European Games in 2023 served as a landmark event for European athletes on their journeys to Paris 2024, and cemented its reputation as the continent’s premier multi-sport event. Of the 29 sports on the programme, 22 are featuring at the Olympic Games in Paris.

There were 118 athletes who earned either direct qualification for the Olympic Games or quota places for their National Olympic Committees, including French B-Boy Dany and Dutch B-Girl India who became the first-ever athletes to qualify for Olympic breaking competitions.

Additionally, there are 237 athletes who clinched European Games gold in Poland are among Europe’s leading medal hopefuls for the Olympic Games.

Most decorated from last year’s European Games is Hungarian shooter Zalán Pekler, who earned four gold medals and is competing in the men’s 10m air rifle and 50m rifle three positions at the Olympic Games.

Other leading names who won golds at Kraków-Małopolska 2023 include Dutch athlete Femke Bol, competing in the women’s 400m hurdles and 4x400m mixed relay in Paris, Ukrainian high jumper and world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh, and Danish badminton star Viktor Axelsen who is looking to defend his men’s singles Olympic title.

Europe’s athletes are seeking to continue their recent domination of the Olympic Games medal table, and again win more than 40% of the podium places available in Paris.

To follow the European Games’ athletes journey at the Olympics, follow us on @EGtoPAris.