England Performance claim eight medals at U19 European Championships

England Performance produced another outstanding display on the continental stage, returning from the 2026 U19 European Championships in Loznica, Serbia with eight medals, including four gold, one silver and three bronze, to finish second in the overall medal table.

The impressive medal haul continues England’s recent success at European level, with the squad delivering a series of standout performances across nine days of competition.

Lily Bassett (TM Boxing), Yashua Flemming (TM Boxing), Reuben Huczmann (Leicester Lightning) and Albe Dowell (Hockley) were all crowned European champions on Finals Day, while Lexie Walker (Wolverhampton) claimed a silver medal.

Joining them on the podium were Siobhan Haley (Platinum), Shannon Warren (Tamworth) and Thabiso Moyo (Leicester Railwaymen), who each returned home with bronze medals after strong campaigns in Serbia.

Lily Bassett continued her remarkable rise by becoming a four-time European champion at just 16 years old.

The TM Boxing star boxed her way to a fourth consecutive European gold medal with three dominant victories before once again standing on top of the podium. Her attention now turns to representing Team GB at the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal later this year.

She said: “I’m feeling on top of the world right now. Winning my fourth European title at just 16 years old is something I’m incredibly proud of.

“Four European golds mean so much to me, and I’ll take this confidence and experience into the Youth Olympics and give everything I’ve got whilst representing Team GB.”

Bassett’s club and England teammate Yashua Flemming enjoyed one of the stories of the championships, winning his second European gold medal three years after his first.

The Londoner returned to the European stage after suffering an accident in 2024 that left him with serious injuries to his right leg.

His triumph in Serbia marked a sensational return to the top of European boxing: “Winning the European Championships means more to me than just winning a gold medal. The journey wasn’t easy, especially having to deal with a terrible injury where I broke my hip, knee, shin and toe along the way, but I refused to let it stop me from chasing my goal.

“There were difficult days, setbacks and moments when I had to dig deeper than ever, but I kept believing in myself and stayed focused on the bigger picture. Standing there as two-time European Champion made every sacrifice, every training session and every obstacle worth it.

“I’m proud of what I achieved, but I’m even more proud of the way I fought through everything to get there. This is only the beginning.”

Reuben Huczmann enjoyed a sensational tournament despite being one of the youngest athletes in the competition.

The Leicester Lightning boxer fought five times on his way to gold, recording two stoppages and three unanimous decision victories to cap an outstanding European campaign.

Huczmann said: “Winning the Europeans as one of the youngest boxers in the U19 tournament, knowing that if I had been born just 20 days earlier, I would have been competing in U17, makes this achievement even more special.

“I had to face older and more experienced boxers, making every challenge tougher. But I never let my age become an excuse. Through determination, grit, hard work and belief, I pushed through and became European champion.”

Albe Dowell rounded off England’s gold rush in the 90kg category, winning the European title at the first attempt.

The Hockley boxer powered through the tournament with three emphatic RSC victories before producing a composed unanimous decision performance against Russia in the final.

His performances were rewarded with the prestigious Best Male Boxer award.

Dowell said: “The experience of the Europeans is like no other. I had fun being out there watching the boxing and being with my teammates.

“Winning that gold medal is the best feeling in the world; words alone can’t describe it, but on top of that winning best male technician of the tournament… I just can’t seem to find the words for it. All I can say is it’s the first of many.”

National Coach Mick Maguire praised both the performances and the unity shown by the squad throughout the championships.

He said: “We are delighted with another very successful European Championships with eight medals, finishing on the team podium in second place, and achieving best boxer trophy with Albe Dowell.

“Going into the tournament, the squad looked very experienced from the outside, but, in reality, the majority of the team were either boxing a year young and/or making their European debuts.

“The bond between the boxers and coaches in this team was unbreakable and that showed in the way they supported each other through tough conditions – with the boxing venue in the mid-40s Celsius almost every session.

“I take immense pride in the tenacity and desire to win every boxer showed and the way in which each one of them fought heart and soul to the last bell in every bout.

“With most of them having another year to come at U19, the future looks very bright.”

Final Standings

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