Amy Hunt completed a remarkable sprint double by winning the 200-meter gold medal at the European Championships in Birmingham. The 24-year-old athlete is pursuing a historic quadruple at the event and has now achieved half of her target, clocking a winning time of 22.19 seconds.
This victory adds to her earlier triumph in the 100-meter final, where she also defeated rival Dina Asher-Smith. Asher-Smith, who won the 200m and 100m double eight years prior, secured the bronze medal in this race. The two British sprinters competed in adjacent lanes, with Asher-Smith initially taking a stronger start around the bend. However, Hunt closed the gap on the home straight to secure the win.
Hunt revealed that she has been managing health issues this year, including instances of low blood pressure that have led to fainting after some 200m races. "I just had to go into that one, get on the bend and be really brave," she stated. "It was an amazing race."
The results mark a significant moment in British sprinting, with Hunt emerging as a dominant force. She had previously retained her national 100m title by beating Asher-Smith in June and then dethroned her over the same distance in the opening night of the Championships. While Asher-Smith still holds a lead in their head-to-head 200m record, Hunt's recent performances indicate a shift in the sprint landscape.
Asher-Smith, who has now accumulated nine European medals, one shy of the all-time record, expressed disappointment with the bronze but acknowledged her longevity in the sport. "It doesn't matter what's going on in my life, I just want to continue to be one of the fastest women in the world," she said. "I'm happy to have done that and it is great to be part of a successful British team."
Ireland's Rhasidat Adeleke took the silver medal in the 200m with a national record time of 22.28 seconds.
In other track events, Keely Hodgkinson advanced her bid for a European hat-trick in the 800 meters. Her semi-final race saw a dramatic tumble involving her main rival, Audrey Werro, though Werro was later reinstated for the final after a successful appeal. Hodgkinson won her semi-final in 1:57.38, while Jemma Reekie also qualified for the final after finishing first in her semi following Werro's fall.
Hunt emphasized that celebrations are on hold until the conclusion of the Championships. "There is no celebrating or champagne until Sunday night," she stated. "I have a debt to the ladies, we have to come out here and show them who the best sprint nation is in Europe. It's not over yet – I hope you're not sick of my face."
Hunt's focus now shifts to the women's and mixed 4x100m relays scheduled for the weekend, as she aims to complete her ambitious quadruple medal haul.