GB’s Hunt wins European 100m gold

Image source, Getty Images

ByHarry PooleBBC Sport journalist

Amy Hunt claimed her first senior international title by storming to 100m glory and delivering Great Britain’s first gold medal at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

Hunt announced herself on the sport’s global stage last year by claiming world 200m silver in Tokyo, where she secured the first individual international medal of her senior career.

Having backed that up with Commonwealth 100m silver two weeks ago, the 24-year-old would not be denied gold this time on home soil at Alexander Stadium.

“It feel so sweet. I have had such a string of silvers and I was starting to get a bit fed up with it, so I thought it was time for gold,” Hunt told BBC Sport.

“My parents gifted me these gold earrings to finally level up, because I wear all-silver jewellery. They said it was time for gold – they left me that note two nights ago – so it made me quite emotional.

“It was definitely time for me to come of age here and win the gold.”

Hunt, full of confidence after this season breaking the 11-second barrier for the first time, raised her arms in celebration after producing a trademark strong finish which delivered her from fifth to first over the second half of the race.

Finishing in 11.00 seconds, she could have as many as three further opportunities to add to that tally on home soil, in the 200m and both the women’s and mixed 4x100m relay events later this week.

British defending champion Dina Asher-Smith, bidding to win her seventh gold and become the joint-most successful athlete in the history of the championships, finished fifth in 11.10 as Poland’s Ewa Swoboda (11.02) and Belgian Delphine Nkansa (11.06) completed the podium.

It was Great Britain’s second medal on the opening day of action, after the hosts took silver in the mixed 4x400m relay.

Yemi Mary John held off Dutch athlete Myrte van der Schoot in the home straight to bring a British quartet also featuring Ben Jefferies, Charlotte Henrich and Toby Harries home in three minutes 10.47 seconds, behind winners Norway (3:09.62).

Hunt’s breakthrough individual global medal in Tokyo last September was a long time coming, but the early years of her senior career were disrupted by injury as she sought to balance the demands of training with studying for an English Literature degree at Cambridge University.

Before those challenging years, Hunt set a women’s under-18 200m world record in 2019 – breaking Asher-Smith’s British under-20 record in the process – but it would be six years before she managed to improve on that personal best time in her favoured event.

With those setbacks now seemingly behind her – among which she suffered a ruptured quadriceps in 2022 – Hunt continues to make exciting progress under the guidance of coach Marco Airale in Italy’s northern city of Padova.

Now consistently able to produce personal-best performances, the silverware is beginning to follow, and this golden moment signalled a changing of the guard at the top of British sprinting.

British record holder Asher-Smith, competing 10 years after winning her first European gold, lined up in Birmingham as the defending champion – but the 30-year-old could not force her way into medal contention.

Asher-Smith was bidding to win her seventh gold and become the joint-most successful athlete in the history of the championships, alongside Croatian discus thrower Sandra Elkasevic and Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who earlier won a superb 5,000m gold on his comeback from injury.

Hunt, typically not the quickest off the blocks at almost six-foot tall, was seventh in the eight-athlete final after the first 10m but held her form superbly to overhaul her rivals.

“I know I am so good in Championship scenarios, so I knew if I was with the girls at 30-40m I was going to be absolutely fine,” said Hunt.

“I have had that experience now at the Commonwealths of being a medal favourite, so that was really useful for me coming here and not getting too carried away with the pressure.”

Discussing her ambitions before the championships, Hunt quoted High School Musical character Sharpay Evans, who sings a song titled “I Want It All” in the film.

She and Asher-Smith will return to action on Wednesday, when attention turns to the 200m medals before the weekend’s relays.

• Athletics