Dutch delegation ready for European Functional Fitness Championships in Bath

From 21 to 23 August, the iF3 Masters & Junior European Championships 2026 will take place in Bath, England. This European championship brings together the best juniors and masters from across Europe to compete for the European titles in functional fitness. The Netherlands will also be present with a strong delegation of athletes ready to measure themselves against the European top.

The championship is held at the University of Bath and consists of six different events that together test every aspect of fitness: endurance, strength, gymnastics, skill, power and work capacity.

What is functional fitness?

Functional fitness is about combining different physical qualities in one sport. Athletes must not only be strong, but also move quickly, possess great endurance and master complex gymnastic skills.

During the European Championships, participants are therefore presented with a wide variety of challenges, ranging from a long running test to heavy lifts and technical handstand walks.

Test 1: Endurance

The tournament opens with a pure endurance test.

Masters 30-34 through 50-54 and Juniors 15-16 through 21-22

• 7.5 kilometre run

Masters 55+ and Juniors 14 and under

• 5 kilometre run

Each athlete's time is recorded with a chip. There is no time cap.

Test 2: Strength

In the strength event, participants receive three 30-second windows to find their heaviest weight for:

1 Clean + 1 Hang Clean

Athletes may choose how they execute the cleans, as long as they meet international competition standards.

Test 3: Bodyweight

An event in which gymnastic skills take centre stage.

Masters 30-34 through 45-49 and Juniors 17-18+

Three rounds of:

• 20 Toes-to-Bar
• 20 Box Jump Overs
• Then as many Bar Muscle-Ups as possible

Masters 50-54 and 55-59

Three rounds of:

• 15 Toes-to-Bar
• 15 Box Jump Overs
• Then as many Bar Muscle-Ups as possible

Masters 60+ and Juniors 12 & Under

Three rounds of:

• 15 Toes-to-Bar
• 15 Box Jump Overs
• Then as many Chest-to-Bar Pull-Ups as possible

The goal is to accumulate as many repetitions as possible within the available time.

Test 4: Skill

Perhaps the most spectacular event of the championship.

Depending on the age category, participants will face elements including:

• Handstand Walks
• Handstand Walks with a yoga block between the feet
• Handstand Walk Pirouettes
• Single Under Crossovers
• Double Under Crossovers
• Rope Climbs
• Dumbbell Hang Clean & Split Jerks

An example from the Masters 30-44 category:

• 6 metre Handstand Walk
• 40 Single Under Crossovers
• 6 metre Handstand Walk
• 12 Alternating Dumbbell Hang Clean & Split Jerks
• 6 metre Handstand Walk with an object between the feet
• 20 Double Unders + 20 Single Unders (unbroken)
• and so on

This test demands maximum balance, coordination and technical precision.

Test 5: Mixed

A classic functional fitness workout where strength and conditioning come together.

Masters 30-59 and Juniors 15+

For time:

15-12-9

• Thrusters
• Line Facing Burpees

After each round:

• 5-4-3 Rope Climbs

Masters 60+

For time:

15-12-9

• Thrusters
• Line Facing Burpees

After each round:

• 5-4-3 Sandbag Cleans

This workout has a ten-minute time cap.

Test 6: Power

The final test of the weekend is short but brutal.

All qualifying categories

• 500 metre row

Athletes get one attempt to put down a maximum sprint. A notable detail is that official Indoor Rowing Records can be recognised during this event.

Dutch delegation in action

The Netherlands travels to Bath with multiple masters and junior athletes. They will represent the Dutch functional fitness community at the highest European level.

A gruelling weekend awaits the Dutch participants. The programme demands complete athletes capable of excelling in running, weightlifting, gymnastics and explosive events alike. That versatility is precisely what makes the iF3 championship one of the most challenging competitions in the international functional fitness world.

Three days of competition for European titles

With a running event, Olympic lifts, muscle-ups, handstand walks, rope climbs, thrusters and a closing rowing sprint, the European Championships in Bath offer a comprehensive picture of what modern functional fitness entails.

There is a great deal at stake for the Dutch delegation. The coming three days will reveal which athletes can call themselves European champion and whether the Netherlands can once again play a significant role on the international podium.