UP NEXT 2026 Gymnasiade · Rio de Janeiro · 3–8 Dec in 18 days
Athletics Podium
Balkan Athletics Championships
Regional

Balkan Athletics Championships

first edition, Athens
1930
editions held
79
medal nations
24
latest · Volos
2026

History

+++ Contributors in this section: Alexander Vangelov (BUL), Michel Naze (FRA), Karolos Sargologos (GRE)

Balkan Athletics Championships (founded as Balkan Games) is one of the oldest tradition in international athletics organised since 1930. Following a successful completion of it's trial edition in 1929, first four edition held in Athens, the traditional Olympic capital. The championships interrupted for 113 years due to World War II and subsequent Greek Civil War and re-established in 1953. The Balkan Games usually held in every year since inauguration - except in 90s where several editions organised in every two years.

Balkan Games have been contested amongst the Original Six; Greece, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Albania almost fifty years. Meanwhile, after the dissolution of Yugoslavia Socialist Republic in early 1990s, the participating countries have increased. Today, Balkan Athletics (ABAF) has 22 eligible member federations.

The championships did not held in 2009 and 2010 due to financial problems, but it rejuvenated by re-formed ABAF from 2011.

More information: See, ATHLETICS PODIUM BALKAN GAMES BOOK


PARTICIPATION & BEST RESULTS (including 2025)

77 editions Greece (GRE) - Only year didn't contest: 2020 / 19-6-7 in 1936

75 Turkey (TUR) - All editions except 1957, 1974, 1985 / 13-13-11 in 2024

74 Romania (ROU) - 1930-39, 1956-25 / 24-7-5 in 2002

72 Bulgaria (BUL) - 1930-37, 1956-25 / Best: 24-22-8 in 1980

48 Albania (ALB) - 1933-38, 63-64, 78, 82, 84, 1986-25 / 3-0-0 in 2023

48 Yugoslavia SR (JUG) - 1930-40, 1953-90 / 16-6-11 in 1971

28 North Macedonia (MKD) - 1996-25 / 1-0-0 in 1998, 2000, 2002

26 Moldova (MDA) - 1996-99, 2001-25 / 3-1-1 in 2004

25 Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) - 1998-25 / 4-2-1 in 2017

19 Serbia (SRB) - 2005-25 / 9-4-7 in 2017

18 Montenegro (MNE) - 2006-25 / 2-1-0 in 2014

13 Croatia (CRO) - 2013-25 / 4-3-3 in 2015

13 Armenia (ARM) - 2013-25 / 3-0-0 in 2020

12 Cyprus (CYP) - 2014-25 / 3-4-2 in 2023

12 Slovenia (SLO) - 2014-25 / 6-3-3 in 2021

10 Georgia (GEO) - 2014-15, 17-19, 21-25) 0-1-1 in 2022

9 Israel (ISR) - 2015-19, 21-23, 25 / 1-2-3 in 2025

9 Yugoslavia (YUG) - 1996-04 / 10-13-10 in 1996

7 Ukraine (UKR) - 2019-25 / 12-13-7 in 2020

6 Kosovo (KOS) - 2016, 2018-19, 2024-25 / 0-3-0 in 2019

5 Azerbaijan (AZE) - 2019, 21, 23-25 / 1-0-0 in 2021, 2025

5 Austria (AUT) - 2021-25 / 5-0-1 in 2024

3 Malta (MLT) - 2023-25 / 0-0-2 in 2024

2 San Marino (SMR) - 2024-25 / No medals

MOST SUCCESSFUL ATHLETES AT THE EVENT

37-7-1 Christos Mantikas (GRE)

19-5-0 Grigoris Georgakopoulos (GRE)

18-2-0 Josip Alebic (JUG)

18-1-1 Renos Frangoudis (GRE)

15-4-2 Mikhail Bachvarov (BUL)

13-8-1 Lilyana Panayotova-Ivanova (BUL)

14-2-4 Zeljko Knapic (JUG)

14-2-2 Nikolaos Syllas (GRE)

13-0-1 Djani Kovac (JUG)

12-3-1 Luciano Susanj (JUG)

12-1-2 Stanko Lorger (JUG)

11-7-2 Draga Stamejcic (JUG)

11-4-4 Valeria Bufanu (ROU)

11-2-1 Petar Petrov (BUL)

10-10-9 Snezhana Kerkhova-Zhalova (BUL)

10-10-5 Olga Sikovec (JUG)

10-5-0 Zoltan Vamos (ROU)

10-4-0 Ivanka Khristova (BUL)

10-4-0 Anelia Nuneva (BUL)

10-3-2 Nadezhda Georgieva (BUL)

LONGEST WIN STREAKS BY A COUNTRY

16 Bulgaria in Women's SP (1966-1981)

13 Jugoslavia in Men's 4x400m (1970-1982)

11 Romania in Women's 400H (1982-1996)

11 Jugoslavia in Men's 800m (1970-1980)

10 Romania in Women's 4x400m (2008-2019)

10 Romania in Men's 10kmW (1964-1973)

10 Greece in Men's 400H (1930-1939)

10 Romania in Men's 3000SC (1972-1981)

BACK-TO-BACK TITLES

9 Stanko Lorger (YUG) in 110H (1953-61)

9 Iolanda Balaş (ROU) in HJ (1957-65)

8 Ivanka Khristova (BUL) in SP (1966-73)

7 Giorgios Papavassiliou (GRE) in 3000SC (1955-61)

7 Nikolaos Syllas (GRE) in DT (1934-40)

6 Josip Alebic (JUG) in 400m (1972-77)

6 Gheorghe Cefan (ROU) in 3000SC (1972-77)

6 Christos Mantikas (GRE) in 400H (1933-38)

6 Nikolaos Syllas (GRE) in DT-Greek (1934-39)

6 Leonid Caraiousifoglu (ROU) in 20kmW (1965-70)

6 Ana Roth-Salagean (ROU) in SP (1957-62)

OLDEST ACTIVE CHAMPIONSHIP RECORDS

Men's 800m: Luciano Susanj (JUG), 1:45.73 in Sofia 1974

Women's 400m: Jelica Pavlicic (JUG), 50.98 in Sofia 1974

MOST MEDALS IN TOTAL (Single edition)

Bulgaria (BUL) in Sofia 1980 (54 medals)

Bulgaria (BUL) in Stara Zagora 1985 (54 medals)

Editions

Scroll for all 79 · newest first
  1. 2026 Volos 43 events
  2. 2025 Volos 43 events
  3. 2024 Izmir 43 events
  4. 2023 Kraljevo 42 events
  5. 2022 Craiova 42 events
  6. 2021 Smederevo, Belgrade 42 events
  7. 2020 Cluj-Napoca 42 events
  8. 2019 Pravets 42 events
  9. 2018 Stara Zagora 42 events
  10. 2017 Novi Pazar 42 events
  11. 2016 Piteşti 42 events
  12. 2015 Piteşti 40 events
  13. 2014 Piteşti 40 events
  14. 2013 Stara Zagora 40 events
  15. 2012 Eskişehir 40 events
  16. 2011 Sliven 40 events
  17. 2008 Argos Orestiko 40 events
  18. 2007 Sofia 40 events
  19. 2006 Zenica 40 events
  20. 2005 Novi Sad 40 events
  21. 2004 Istanbul 40 events
  22. 2003 Thiva 40 events
  23. 2002 Bucharest 40 events
  24. 2001 Trikala 39 events
  25. 2000 Kavala 39 events
  26. 1999 Istanbul 43 events
  27. 1998 Belgrade 43 events
  28. 1997 Athens 43 events
  29. 1996 Niş 41 events
  30. 1994 Trikala 41 events
  31. 1992 Sofia 43 events
  32. 1990 Istanbul 41 events
  33. 1989 Serres 41 events
  34. 1988 Ankara 40 events
  35. 1986 Ljubljana 39 events
  36. 1985 Stara Zagora 39 events
  37. 1984 Athens 39 events
  38. 1983 Izmir 39 events
  39. 1982 Bucharest 39 events
  40. 1981 Sarajevo 39 events
  41. 1980 Sofia 39 events
  42. 1979 Pireaus 39 events
  43. 1978 Thessaloniki 39 events
  44. 1977 Ankara 37 events
  45. 1976 Celje 37 events
  46. 1975 Bucharest 37 events
  47. 1974 Sofia 37 events
  48. 1973 Pireaus 37 events
  49. 1972 Izmir 37 events
  50. 1971 Zagreb 37 events
  51. 1970 Bucharest 37 events
  52. 1969 Sofia 37 events
  53. 1968 Pireaus 35 events
  54. 1967 Istanbul 35 events
  55. 1966 Sarajevo 35 events
  56. 1965 Pireaus 35 events
  57. 1964 Bucharest 35 events
  58. 1963 Sofia 35 events
  59. 1962 Ankara 35 events
  60. 1961 Belgrade 35 events
  61. 1960 Athens 34 events
  62. 1959 Bucharest 34 events
  63. 1958 Sofia 33 events
  64. 1957 Athens 33 events
  65. 1956 Belgrade 21 events
  66. 1955 Istanbul 21 events
  67. 1954 Belgrade 21 events
  68. 1953 Athens 21 events
  69. 1940 Istanbul 19 events
  70. 1939 Athens 24 events
  71. 1938 Belgrade 22 events
  72. 1937 Bucharest 22 events
  73. 1936 Athens 22 events
  74. 1935 Istanbul 22 events
  75. 1934 Zagreb 22 events
  76. 1933 Athens 22 events
  77. 1932 Athens 22 events
  78. 1931 Athens 22 events
  79. 1930 Athens 22 events

All-time medal table

24 nations
#NationTotal
1 Romania ROU7647096502123
2 Greece GRE5745785361688
3 Bulgaria BUL5665434951604
4 Yugoslavia SR JUG3863653611112
5 Turkey TUR199242293734
6 Serbia SRB837182236
7 Ukraine UKR493927115
8 Yugoslavia (1993-2004) YUG375778172
9 Croatia CRO304244116
10 Moldova MDA264746119
11 Slovenia SLO21213173
12 Albania ALB17223069

Most golds

  1. 1 Christos Mantikas 100m, 200m, 400m +3 · 1930–40 Gold 37 Silver 7 Bronze 1
  2. 2 Grigoris Georgakopoulos (1909) 800m, 1500m, relays · 1930–37 Gold 19 Silver 5 Bronze 0
  3. 3 Josip Alebic 400m, relays · 1970–81 Gold 18 Silver 2 Bronze 0
  4. 4 Renos Frangoudis 100m, 200m, relays · 1930–36 Gold 18 Silver 1 Bronze 1
  5. 5 Mikhail Bachvarov 100m, 200m, relays · 1956–67 Gold 15 Silver 4 Bronze 2
  6. 6 Zeljko Knapic 200m, 400m, relays · 1977–86 Gold 14 Silver 2 Bronze 4
  7. 7 Nikolaos Syllas Discus throw, Discus throw (Greek style) · 1931–40 Gold 14 Silver 2 Bronze 2
  8. 8 Lilyana Panayotova 100m, 200m, 400m hurdles +2 · 1971–84 Gold 13 Silver 8 Bronze 1
  9. 9 Djani Kovac 400m, 400m hurdles, relays · 1959–65 Gold 13 Silver 0 Bronze 1
  10. 10 Luciano Susanj 400m, 800m, relays · 1969–76 Gold 12 Silver 3 Bronze 1
Programme · all time

54 events contested since 1930

From 22 events in Athens to 43 in Volos.

Men 27

Women 26

Mixed 1

Stories

21 Jun 2026 Volos 2026: Miltos or Mythos Greek star Miltiadis Tentoglou earned his fourth Balkan title on home soil. 26 May 2024 Home victory for the Turks The host nation dominated the Balkan Championships. 24 May 2024 Preview: Balkan Champs Izmir attracted one of the great line-ups for years of the Balkans.
↑ ↓ move ↵ open ⇧ ↵ all results esc close / open search anywhere