Hunt secures first senior title as Britain claims European 100m gold

Great Britain’s Amy Hunt has claimed her first senior international title, winning the women’s 100m gold medal at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Clocking 11.00 seconds, the victory not only secured Hunt’s maiden senior accolade but also delivered Great Britain’s first gold medal of the championships on home soil.

The 24-year-old demonstrated significant tactical execution, moving from fifth to first place over the second half of the race. Hunt, who had broken the 11-second barrier for the first time this season, utilised a strong finish to overtake her rivals. The result signals a potential transition in British sprinting, with Hunt’s emergence challenging the long-standing dominance of established figures in the sport.

Defending champion Dina Asher-Smith, who was bidding to win her seventh European gold and equal the most successful athlete in the history of the championships, finished fifth in 11.10 seconds. Asher-Smith, the British record holder, could not force her way into medal contention in her tenth year since winning her first European gold. Poland’s Ewa Swoboda took silver in 11.02 seconds, while Belgium’s Delphine Nkansa claimed bronze in 11.06 seconds.

Hunt’s path to the podium has been marked by resilience. After setting a women’s under-18 200m world record in 2019, her early senior career was disrupted by injury, including a ruptured quadriceps in 2022, while she balanced training with an English Literature degree at Cambridge University. Now training under Marco Airale in Padova, Italy, Hunt has consistently produced personal-best performances, following her world 200m silver in Tokyo last year and Commonwealth 100m silver earlier this month.

Great Britain also secured silver in the mixed 4x400m relay on the opening day of the championships. The British quartet, comprising Yemi Mary John, Ben Jefferies, Charlotte Henrich, and Toby Harries, finished in three minutes 10.47 seconds. Yemi Mary John held off Dutch athlete Myrte van der Schoot in the home straight to secure the position, finishing behind winners Norway, who clocked 3:09.62.

Hunt now has three further opportunities to add to her medal tally later in the week, competing in the 200m and both the women’s and mixed 4x100m relay events. The victory at Alexander Stadium underscores her progression from a promising junior talent to a leading figure in European sprinting.