Hunt secures second European gold in Birmingham sprint double

Britain’s Amy Hunt has secured her second gold medal at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, winning the 200m final in a season’s best time of 22.19 seconds. The victory extends Hunt’s dominance at the tournament, following her 100m title earlier in the week, and positions her as a potential record-breaker in the sport’s history.

Hunt, aged 24, powered through the final 40 metres to overtake compatriot Dina Asher-Smith and Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke. The performance marked a significant turnaround for the sprinter, who admitted to struggling with the event earlier in the summer. By emulating Asher-Smith’s 2018 European double, Hunt has solidified her status as a leading figure in European sprinting.

Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke claimed silver, setting a new national record in the process. Asher-Smith finished third, securing her ninth European Championship medal. This tally places her second only to Polish sprinter Irena Szewinska, who holds the record with 10 medals. Asher-Smith described her return to the podium as a significant achievement after a decade since her first medal.

Prior to the race, there were expectations of a British one-two-three finish, with Hunt, Asher-Smith, and Success Eduan holding the three fastest times in Europe for the year. However, Eduan, who had defeated Hunt to win the British title in June, finished sixth. The result underscores the competitive depth within the British squad, even as Hunt continues to lead the charge.

Hunt’s success contributes to a broader pattern of British dominance in sprint events at the Birmingham championships. This follows a one-two finish in the men’s 100m by Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu, as well as Matthew Hudson-Smith’s victory in the 400m. With the women’s and mixed 4x100m relays remaining, Hunt remains on course to become the first athlete to win four gold medals in a single European Championship tournament.