Germany claimed the men’s triple gold medal and the women’s triple bronze medal at the 2026 AirBadminton European Continental Championships in Ancient Olympia, Greece, continuing a strong run in the outdoor racket sport.
Men’s Triple Gold in Ancient Olympia
David Kramer, Fabian Hippold, Lennart Konder and Thomas Fuchs captured the men’s triple title at the birthplace of the Olympic Games, finishing the tournament undefeated. In the final of the 3-gegen-3 competition, the German team defeated Turkey in a five-set match that finished 5–9, 9–4, 13–12, 4–9 and 9–6. AirBadminton men’s triple matches are contested in a best-of-five format where games are played to nine points. After trading early advantages, the German team secured the deciding fifth set to claim the continental crown.
Women’s Triple and Team Event Results
In the women’s triple tournament, Florentine Schöffski, Julia Meyer, Ella Neve and Lea Stremlau earned the bronze medal. The German quartet advanced deep into the bracket before falling in the semifinals to the Netherlands, who went on to capture the women’s triple gold. In the team event, Germany reached the quarterfinals before dropping a match to Greece, who went on to capture the title.
Implications for the 2029 World Games in Karlsruhe
The medal haul at the second edition of the continental championships reinforces Germany’s standing as a leading competitor in the outdoor discipline. The results carry added weight with the 2029 World Games approaching in Karlsruhe, Germany, where AirBadminton will feature on the official sports program for the first time. The performances in Greece establish a competitive baseline as national programs prepare for the multi-sport event.
Format and Rules of Outdoor AirBadminton
Introduced by the BWF in 2019 to expand the sport beyond indoor arenas, AirBadminton uses specialized equipment designed for outdoor play, primarily on sand surfaces. Matches feature an AirShuttle, a plastic shuttlecock engineered with greater wind resistance to remain playable in winds up to approximately 12 kilometers per hour. Courts measure 16 by 6 meters for doubles and triples, featuring a 2-meter “dead zone” directly behind the net. The triple format requires three players per side with a rule that prohibits any single player from executing two ball contacts in a row, placing a premium on communication and tactical rotation.
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