BIRMINGHAM, England : Britain’s Amy Hunt became the first athlete to win four gold medals at a single European Athletics Championships on Sunday, while teammate Dina Asher-Smith became the most decorated competitor in the event’s 92-year history.
Hunt, 24, helped Britain win the mixed 4×100 metres relay in a European record 39.97 seconds in front of a sell-out crowd, adding to her individual 100m and 200m titles and the women’s 4x100m relay gold.
“Oh my gosh, I am over the moon. I think to finish it off with some of my best friends in the sport is incredible,” Hunt told the BBC.
Asher-Smith, 30, finished the championships with eight European gold medals and 11 medals overall after contributing to Britain’s mixed relay victory alongside Jeremiah Azu and Zharnel Hughes.
Georgia Hunter Bell added another gold for the hosts in the 1,500m, completing a remarkable comeback after stepping away from athletics for five years earlier in her career.
Britain finished second in the medal table with 19 medals, including nine golds, behind Italy, who claimed the final title of the championships in the men’s 4x400m relay by 0.03 seconds.
Italy finished with 22 medals, including 10 golds, followed by Germany with 21 medals and six golds, the Netherlands with 14 and five, and Norway with six and four.
Matthew Hudson-Smith’s silver in the men’s 4x400m relay took his career European Championship medal tally to nine, moving him past French sprinter Christophe Lemaitre as the most decorated male athlete in the competition’s history.
Duplantis seals fourth successive title
Sweden’s Armand Duplantis retained his European pole vault title for a fourth consecutive time, clearing 6.15 metres to break his own championship record.
The world record holder restored his dominance after a rare defeat at the Stockholm Diamond League in June and a withdrawal from last month’s London Diamond League.
“Four of these in a row is a really amazing feat, so I am trying to soak it all in and enjoy it,” the 26-year-old said.
“It was an amazing night – really special. The lead-up has been very difficult and stressful but luckily I was able to make it work.”
Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis won silver with 6.00m, while France’s Baptiste Thiery took bronze after clearing 5.85m.
