Poland take silver in European short track mixed relay

Poland’s mixed relay team secured the silver medal at the European Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Tilburg, the Netherlands, finishing runners-up in a dramatic final that confirmed the country’s growing status in the discipline.

Poland’s mixed relay team won the silver medal at the European Short Track Championships in Tilburg, the Netherlands, on 18 January 2026.

Photo: courtesy of the International Skating Union (ISU)

The quartet of Michał Niewiński, Natalia Maliszewska, Gabriela Topolska and Felix Pigeon spent most of the race in third place, holding off Hungary, while the home favourites battled Italy for gold.

On the final bend of the decisive lap, however, an Italian skater made a mistake, crashing into the safety barriers at speed but escaping injury.

The incident allowed both Poland and Hungary to move up, with the Poles taking silver and the Hungarians bronze.

The result marked a clear improvement on Poland’s performance at last year’s championships in Dresden.

Team Netherlands turns last year’s silver into gold in the mixed relay at the European Championships! 💥🚀 #ShortTrack pic.twitter.com/VjYJWmRX8f

— ISU Speed Skating (@ISU_Speed) January 18, 2026

The team had earlier shown its strength by winning its quarter-final on Friday, with Niewiński, Maliszewska, Kamila Sellier and Diane Sellier in action, before finishing second in Saturday’s semi-final featuring Niewiński, Topolska, Maliszewska and Pigeon.

Polska ze srebrem na ME w short-tracku! https://t.co/VTjELX4GdM

— Sport PolskieRadio24.pl (@sport_pr24pl) January 18, 2026

All six Polish athletes involved across the rounds were awarded medals, underlining the depth of the national team and reinforcing Poland’s credentials as a serious contender on the European short track stage.

(mp)

Source: The International Skating Union (ISU)/PAP/Sport PR24.pl