Amy Hunt’s 200m gold medal win confirms a changing of the guard in British sprinting

Amy Hunt is now halfway to an historic four European golds at one championships after completing a brilliant sprint double at Birmingham 2026 with 200m gold.

The 24-year-old claimed her second gold in four days by blitzing the field with a European lead time of 22.19.

Dina Asher-Smith was the last sprinter to double up at this competition eight years ago but could only manage bronze on this occasion.

The home hopefuls were in adjacent lanes and Asher-Smith got the better start around the bend as she sought a seventh European gold.

But Hunt reeled her compatriot in on the home straight as the domestic duel lived up to expectations in front of an improved crowd of more than 20,000 at the Alexander Stadium.

“The 100 is the hardest mentally and the 200 is the hardest physically,” Hunt told the BBC. “I’ve had a lot of health things going on this year, some really low blood pressure, and the 200s have been really scary. I have been fainting after some of my 200s this year.

“I just had to go into that one, get on the bend and be really brave. It was an amazing race.”

Asher-Smith has now won nine European medals, putting her one shy of the all-time record, but this was the latest sign of a changing of the guard.

Hunt retained her national 100m title by beating Asher-Smith on this track in June before dethroning her over the same distance on the opening night of these Championships.

Asher-Smith still leads the 200m head-to-head between the two but Hunt has come of age in the last 12 months and now set her sights on completing a remarkable quadruple as she looks ahead to the women’s and mixed 4x100m relays over the weekend.

“This is becoming a magical week and one I will remember for the rest of my life,” she said. “There is no celebrating or champagne until Sunday night. 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.”

Asher-Smith said: “Obviously, I’m disappointed to have a bronze, but I think 10 years after my first one it is such an achievement to be in a place to come back year after year.

“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. I’m happy to have done that and it is great to be part of a successful British team.”

The hosts’ pair finished either side of Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke, who won silver in a 22.28 national record.

Keely Hodgkinson kept her bid for a European hat-trick on track on a dramatic afternoon which saw her main rival Audrey Werro take a tumble – before being reinstated for the final.

Hodgkinson won the second semi-final in 1:57.38, holding off Femke Broeders-Bol to safely advance to one of the most eagerly-awaited events of the week.

It was a far more serene race than the opening semi, which was dominated by Werro before she hit the deck on the final bend.

Werro picked herself up to stumble over the finish line and a successful appeal means the 22-year-old, who holds this year’s world lead, will also be on the start line.

Hodgkinson was relieved to avoid the chaos and said: “You can’t worry about what happened to other people, but I hope she’s ok.

“The excitement makes me excited. I love a good challenge and I hope for a clean race with no falling over and no wind.”

Scot Jemma Reekie took advantage of Werro’s slip to cross the line first and advance in 1:58.61.

Elsewhere, Mark English won Ireland’s first individual men’s gold medal at the European Championships as he finished first in the 800m.

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