Thor and Marie Christtreu of the Ribe Badminton Club competed at the European Senior Championships 2026, held from September 19 to September 27, 2026, in Cagliari, Italy, marking a notable international outing for the Danish club players.
Tournament Scale in Cagliari
The European Senior Championships 2026 brought together 1,576 players representing 35 European national member associations. Designed for athletes aged 35 and older, the competition spans age categories from 35+ up to 80+. Matches across men’s and women’s singles as well as men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles were distributed across 14 courts during the week-long event on the island of Sardinia.
Ribe Badminton Club chairman Janni Weis expressed pride in having two representatives make the journey to the continental tournament. Weis noted that the trip served as a direct test of the requirements for high-level international play while offering the pair a chance to represent both Denmark and their home club abroad.
Matches and On-Court Performance
Thor Christtreu entered three different events, partnering with his wife Marie in the mixed doubles division. Thor secured victories in his opening match across all three of his disciplines.
In men’s singles, he mounted a strong challenge before exiting in a three-set match decided by extra points. In the mixed doubles draw, the couple claimed a 21-19 victory in the third set of their second-round match against a prominent German pair previously regarded as medal contenders. Their run in the tournament concluded in the quarterfinals following a defeat against a French pairing.
Matches took place across three separate halls featuring shifting drafts at the ends and through the center of the playing areas, alongside a large overhead lighting ring.
Family Media Coverage and Local Support
Back home in Denmark, club members, friends, and family followed the results through daily updates on television broadcasts and social media channels. Meanwhile, the Christtreu family operated an independent media presence on site in Cagliari.
The couple’s three children, Silje, Vilja, and Ellie, traveled with them to Sardinia and produced regular video reels documenting the tournament.
For Thor Christtreu, stepping onto the court alongside Marie while wearing the red-and-white Danish kit stood out as the defining memory of the week. He noted that seeing family members and traveling supporters form a cheering section while appearing on broadcast television was an emotional experience.
Upcoming Schedule
Following their return from Sardinia, the focus turns to domestic and international competition. Thor Christtreu is scheduled to compete in the Denmark Open during week 42, with longer-term ambitions pointing toward international tournaments abroad, the World Championships in Australia next year, and the European Championships scheduled for two years from now.
Worth a look
