Emmanouil Karalis starts the 2026 season clearing 5.93m to win the Orlen Cup in Lodz

Greek athlete Emmanouil Karalis made a triumphant debut for the 2026 season after clearing 5.93m to win the Orlen Cup in Lodz. The competition, which took place yesterday, is part of the World Indoor Athletics Tour with a “silver label”.

Emmanouil Karalis secured first place with a successful first attempt of 5.70m, before clearing 5.93m on his third attempt, with a significant lead over the bar. He then made a single unsuccessful attempt of 6.07m before retiring from the competition to the applause of the audience at the Atlas Arena.

The reigning European indoor champion and world outdoor silver medallist, second only to world record holder Armand Duplantis, is planning a busy indoor season. The culmination will be his return to Poland for the World Indoor Championships in Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena Torun, Poland, from 20 to 22 March.

His next competition will be the Perch’Xtrem in Caen on January 31st.