- June 26, 2026
- 5:44 pm
- Israel
An international athletics tournament Grand Slam Jerusalem 2026 was held in Jerusalem, and the women’s long jump final became one of the most notable events of the evening for the Israeli audience.
Athletes from Ukraine and Israel stood on the podium: Ukrainian Iryna Budzinska won gold, while Israelis Romi Tamir and Mili Tunkel took silver and bronze. For the home tournament in Israel, this was not just a sports protocol but a strong result for both countries, which found themselves side by side in the top positions that evening.
The tournament took place on June 25, 2026, at the National Athletics Stadium in Givat Ram, Jerusalem. Grand Slam Jerusalem holds the status of World Athletics Continental Tour — Silver, meaning it is part of the international athletics system and attracts athletes not only from Israel but also from other countries.
Grand Slam Jerusalem: What is this competition
The history of Grand Slam Jerusalem did not begin with a single start but with a broader idea: to make Jerusalem not only the political and cultural capital of Israel but also a notable point on the international athletics map.
The foundation for this was the stadium in Givat Ram. It has become the main arena in recent years where Israel hosts major athletics competitions. Before the advent of Grand Slam Jerusalem, Jerusalem had already passed an important test: in 2022, the city hosted the European U18 Championships, and in 2023, the European U20 Championships. These tournaments showed that the capital of Israel is capable of organizing European-level competitions, hosting delegations, athletes, coaches, judges, and spectators from different countries.
After this experience, the logical next step was the creation of its own international athletics tournament for adult athletes. Thus, Grand Slam Jerusalem began to develop in Jerusalem. The first prestigious start of this format in Israel took place in 2024 at the National Athletics Stadium in Givat Ram. Organizers immediately emphasized that this was not just a local competition but a tournament of the World Athletics Continental Tour — Silver level, meaning it is part of the international system of starts that affect the world ranking of athletes.
In 2024, Grand Slam Jerusalem was especially important because it took place in the Olympic season. For Israeli and foreign athletes, it was an opportunity to test their form before the Olympic Games in Paris and the European Championships in Rome. Therefore, from the very beginning, the tournament had not only spectator but also sports significance: the results here could be important for ranking, selection, and the international career of an athlete.
In 2025, the competition continued and became entrenched in the calendar. Grand Slam Jerusalem was held again in Jerusalem, at the Givat Ram stadium, already as a recognizable international start of the Silver category. The program included sprints, hurdles, middle distances, jumps, and throws, and the competition itself was covered as part of the World Athletics Continental Tour calendar.
By 2026, Grand Slam Jerusalem is no longer perceived as a one-time initiative but as a tournament held for the third consecutive year. In the official program, organizers directly call it the third edition of the competition and note that the project, which began just a few years ago as a sports idea, has already become a respected international event in the athletics calendar.
For Jerusalem, this is especially important. The city uses Grand Slam Jerusalem as a continuation of the line started by the European junior championships. First, the capital of Israel proved it could host major youth tournaments, then it gained its own adult international start, and now it is gradually strengthening its status.
Therefore, the history of Grand Slam Jerusalem is a story of rapid growth. First — the infrastructure and experience of Givat Ram. Then — the European U18 and U20 Championships. After that — the launch of its own tournament in 2024. Then — consolidation in the calendar in 2025. And finally — the third edition in 2026, when Grand Slam Jerusalem already becomes one of Israel’s main athletics showcases.
The main idea of the tournament is to provide athletes with an international arena in Israel and to show spectators athletics not as a secondary sport but as a grand evening of speed, strength, jumps, and the fight for centimeters, seconds, and ranking points. For the Israeli audience, it is also an opportunity to see local athletes and athletes from Europe and other countries without traveling abroad for competitions.
Thus, Grand Slam Jerusalem has become not just a one-evening tournament but part of Jerusalem’s sports strategy: the city is gradually building a reputation as a place where international-level competitions can be held.
The tournament program includes running disciplines, hurdles, middle distances, jumps, and throws. For spectators, it is a format of a grand athletics evening, and for athletes, it is an opportunity to perform at an international level in Israel.
The venue is also of particular importance. The stadium in Givat Ram is already associated with major athletics events: Jerusalem hosted the European U18 Championships in 2022 and the European U20 Championships in 2023. Therefore, Grand Slam Jerusalem continues the line in which the capital of Israel strengthens its role as a platform for international sports.
Ukraine and Israel took the top places in the final
In the women’s long jump, Iryna Budzinska from Ukraine took first place with a result of 6.80 m. It was the best jump of the final and the second-best result in the athlete’s career. Her personal record of 6.82 m was set at the end of May at a tournament in Limassol.
But the main picture of the final is broader than one victory.
Israeli athletes also had a strong competition. Romi Tamir took second place with a result of 6.37 m, and Mili Tunkel came third, showing 6.16 m. Both results were marked as personal records, making the Israeli success especially important for the home arena.
Thus, the podium in Jerusalem became Ukrainian-Israeli: Ukraine took first place, Israel — second and third. For НАновости — Новости Израиля | Nikk.Agency, this story is important in this context: not as a separate victory of one athlete but as a sports evening where Ukraine and Israel together found themselves at the center of an international tournament.
How the long jump final went
The final began with a strong statement from Iryna Budzinska. Already in the first attempt, she jumped 6.49 m and took the lead. After two unsuccessful attempts, the Ukrainian athlete improved her result to 6.67 m, and then in the fifth outing in the sector showed 6.80 m.
Her series looked like this: 6.49 — X — X — 6.67 — 6.80 — 6.58.
For the Israelis, this final was also successful. Tamir and Tunkel not only made it to the top three but did so with personal records, at a home tournament and in competition with international rivals.
This is an important moment for Israeli athletics: silver and bronze at Grand Slam Jerusalem show that local athletes not only participate in the tournament but also genuinely compete for high places.
How the places were distributed and why it is important for Israel
The final protocol shows that the final was strong specifically for Ukraine and Israel.
First place was taken by Iryna Budzinska, Ukraine — 6.80 m.
Second was Romi Tamir, Israel — 6.37 m, personal record.
Third place was taken by Mili Tunkel, Israel — 6.16 m, personal record.
Fourth finished Linoy Levi from Israel with a result of 6.01 m, which was her best result of the season.
Fifth place was taken by Italian representative Nikla Mozetti — 5.91 m.
In sixth position was Israeli Angelika Mitin — 5.85 m, best result of the season.
Seventh place was taken by another Israeli representative, Doron Zamir, with a result of 5.71 m, also her best of the season.
Another Ukrainian athlete, Anastasia Korchagina, finished the final in eighth place with a result of 5.69 m.
In the top eight, there were five athletes from Israel and two representatives from Ukraine. This makes the final especially notable for the local audience: Israel took two places on the podium and had a wide presence in the upper part of the protocol, while Ukraine took the victory and was also represented by two participants.
A sports evening where Ukraine and Israel were side by side
Grand Slam Jerusalem this time was not only a tournament with good results but also an event where Ukrainian and Israeli sports were side by side in the strongest part of the final.
For Ukraine, it is gold and confirmation of Iryna Budzinska’s form. For Israel — silver, bronze, personal records, and a confident presence of several athletes in the top eight.
In such stories, there are no loud political declarations, but there is a simple and understandable meaning. An international tournament takes place in Jerusalem. Ukrainian and Israeli athletes take the top places. The home audience sees not only the victory of a guest from Ukraine but also the strong performance of their athletes.
That is why this final should be considered more broadly than one line in the protocol. Grand Slam Jerusalem 2026 showed that Israel is capable of hosting international-level competitions, and athletes from Ukraine and Israel can together create the main sports story of the evening.