Amy Hunt wins women's 100m gold at European Athletics Championships

Amy Hunt Wins Women's 100m Gold at European Athletics Championships

Amy Hunt has 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, who had previously won Olympic silver as part of Great Britain's 4x100m relay team in 2024 and world 200m silver in Tokyo, announced herself on the sport's global stage last year. Hunt's victory in the 100m event was a notable one, with the 24-year-old crossing the finish line in 11.00 seconds. Poland's Ewa Swoboda took silver in 11.02 seconds, while Belgian Delphine Nkansa claimed bronze in 11.06 seconds. Defending champion Dina Asher-Smith, who was bidding to win her seventh gold and become the joint-most successful athlete in the history of the championships, finished fifth in 11.10 seconds. Hunt's win was all the more impressive given her slow start out of the blocks. The British athlete, who stands at almost six feet 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," Hunt said. The victory was a special moment for Hunt, who had been gifted gold earrings by her parents with a note that read "it was time for gold." Hunt had previously expressed her frustration at having a string of silver medals, and her win in the 100m event marked a breakthrough for the young athlete. "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. Hunt's win was not the only notable performance by a British athlete on the opening day of the championships. The hosts took silver in the mixed 4x400m relay, with the team of Ben Jefferies, Charlotte Henrich, Toby Harries, and Yemi Mary John finishing strongly to hold off the Netherlands and Poland as Norway claimed gold. Max Burgin, who had been struggling with a virus, looked much more like his old self as he won a stacked 800m heat in 1min 45.80sec. "It went well," he said. "I was happy with how I ran it. I'm happy with my kick finish, it is always good to know I've still got one. I don't often see it. It was a good run out. I'm looking forward to the semis.” The championships also saw a number of other notable performances, including the return to form of Norwegian athlete Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who won the 5,000m event in 13:15.29. Italian athlete Leonardo Fabbri also impressed, winning gold in the shot put competition. "I'm happy for those who never stopped believing in me," Fabbri said. "Everything went as I imagined, I enjoyed it.” The sparse crowds on the opening day of the championships were a disappointment, with the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham looking barely half full despite having a capacity of 20,000. However, organizers reported that 13,623 tickets had been sold for the Monday night, and that the event was expected to be a sell-out from Thursday night onwards, with a total of 170,000 tickets sold across the week. As the championships continue, all eyes will be on the talented athletes competing for medals. Hunt will be looking to add to her medal tally as she competes in the 200m event, while Asher-Smith will be seeking to bounce back from her disappointing performance in the 100m. With a number of exciting events still to come, the European Athletics Championships are shaping up to be an exciting and unpredictable event. Lina Nielsen comfortably won her women's 400m hurdles heat to breeze into the semi-finals as the second-fastest qualifier in 55.08. "It felt really good, it felt really chill," she said. "The plan was to conserve as much energy as you can whilst setting yourself up for the semis.” Nielsen will be looking to challenge for a medal in the semi-finals, although she remains cautious about her chances. "Anything can happen in the final. I'm just taking it race by race. I think the semis will be very difficult, so my plan is to recover as best I can.” Archie Yeo made it through to the men's long jump final with 7.92m in his last leap. The medals in the event look to be between the Olympic champion, Miltiadis Tentoglou, of Greece, who qualified third with 8.26m, Italy's Francesco Inzoli who jumped 8.34m and Serbia's Luka Boskovic, who was just a centimetre back on 8.33m. Jake Norris sneaked into the men's hammer throw final on Tuesday by finishing ninth in qualification with a throw of 75.67m. "I am happy with how I performed no matter what happens," Norris said. "I am not much of a morning person, I struggled with the early wake up. But I am proud of how I have been throwing and training has been going well.” The championships continue this week, with a number of exciting events still to come. The European Athletics Championships are sure to be an thrilling and unpredictable ride. And for Amy Hunt, her victory in the 100m event marks a special moment in her career, one that she will be looking to build on as she competes in the 200m event later this week.