Max Heß wins silver at the European Indoor Championships: fifth medal in a row!

Max Heß wins silver at the European Indoor Championships: fifth medal in a row!

On March 8, 2025, the European Indoor Championships took place in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, where triple jumper Max Heß from LAC Natural Gas Chemnitz once again presented himself in top form. The student from Chemnitz University of Technology jumped an impressive 17.43 meters and thus secured the silver medal. For Heß, this not only means a personal best, but also the fifth medal in a row at the European Indoor Championships. He had previously won four bronze medals in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023, which impressively underlines his consistency and performance. Heß stated that his result brought him close to the German record and was optimistic about his achievements.

With his jump, Hess would have even won the title at four of the last five events. This shows the high quality of his performances and the competition he faced this time with Andy Díaz Hernández, the Italian winner. Hernández surpassed Hess by 28 centimeters with a distance of 17.71 meters. Heß achieved his best performance in the first attempt of the final and was aware that he was only “wasting” 1.9 centimeters on the take-off board, which could have possibly given him an even better placement.

The European Indoor Championships in context

The European Indoor Championships have been an important part of the European athletics calendar since they were first held in 1934 and are organized by the European Athletic Association (EAA). These championships aim to select the best athletes in various disciplines. European athletics has undergone a long development since the first competitions, in which both men's and women's competitions play an important role. What is particularly noteworthy is the fact that women have only been allowed to take part in the competitions since 1938, while initially only men were represented.

With the introduction of the two-year rhythm in 2012, which allows them to be held almost simultaneously with the World Championships, the European Championships have become established in modern athletics. These events not only offer athletes like Heß the chance to win medals, but also to assert themselves in international competition.

In addition to Heß, shot putter Sara Gambetta also benefited from a medal by taking silver with 18.83 meters. This was her first international medal, while Auriol Dongmo of Portugal took the gold with 19.76 meters. Other notable performances came from Hanna Klein, who won gold in the 3000 meters, and sprinter Alexandra Burghardt, who finished seventh in the 60m final. The multitude of successes shows the strength of the German Athletics Association (DLV) and its commitment to outstanding achievements on the European stage.

Heß studies at Chemnitz University of Technology, which is recognized as a “partner university for top-class sports”. This partnership enables athletes to successfully combine studies and competitive sports, which is of great benefit to Heß and many other athletes. The flexible design of study plans and examination times supports athletes in their careers, both academically and in sports.