Werro claims European 800m gold as Hodgkinson settles for silver

Switzerland’s Audrey Werro has secured the women’s 800m title at the European Athletics Championships 2026, finishing in a championship record time of one minute 54.81 seconds. The victory in Birmingham denies Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson a third consecutive European gold medal in the event.

The final at the Alexander Stadium featured a tightly contested three-way battle for supremacy between Hodgkinson, Werro, and Dutch athlete Femke Broeders-Bol. The event drew a sellout crowd of 23,000 spectators, creating a charged atmosphere for the most eagerly anticipated race of the championships.

Hodgkinson, the reigning Olympic champion, entered the final seeking to reassert her dominance in the distance. Supported by the home crowd, she pursued Werro through the closing stages but was unable to overtake the Swiss rival. Hodgkinson finished second, taking silver in the race.

Werro, aged 22, claimed her first major international title with the victory. Her performance follows a strong season in which she became the fastest athlete since the world record was set 43 years ago. The 2026 European Championships mark a significant milestone in her career, establishing her as a leading figure in middle-distance running.

For Hodgkinson, the silver medal represents her 12th senior international medal. The 24-year-old Briton first claimed a senior international honour as a teenager at the European Indoor Championships five years ago. Earlier in the 2026 season, she had improved the British record to 1:54.33 and won her qualifying heat in 1:57.28, the fastest time across all heats.