Amy Hunt claims third European Championships gold in relay triumph for ‘fantastic four’

No sooner had Amy Hunt won a staggering third European gold medal in five days than she pointed at the superwomen guiding her closer to history. “We’re the fantastic four,” she said.

It was hard to argue with that, especially after watching Britain’s 4x100m women power to glory in 42.05secs, more than 10 metres clear of Switzerland and Poland.

“It’s such a privilege to be able to step on the track with these ladies, and the individual superpowers that we bring,” said Hunt. “It’s no joke. We’re all superwomen together out there.”

First she addressed Dina Asher-Smith, who ran the first leg and whose gold equalled the Polish sprinter Irena Szewinska’s overall record tally of 10 medals at the championships. “I’m stood next to Dina, she’s the most decorated European athlete in history,” she said. “She has got thousands of medals.”

Then Hunt turned to the emerging 21-year-old star Success Eduan, who is three weeks from completing a degree in midwifery. “This girl, Success, is a midwife,” said Hunt. “She brings new babies into the world.”

Finally, Hunt pointed to Imani-Lara Lansiquot, who had brilliantly carried the baton home. In 2021 she had also written a play, Armour of Gaza, about growing up in Peckham. “Imani, that girl wrote a play,” said Hunt, clearly deeply impressed.

The overall message was clear. On Sunday, Hunt will attempt to become the first athlete to win four gold medals at a single edition of a European championships in the mixed 4x100m relay. But she wanted this night to be about her teammates most of all.

And that included praise for Britain’s new relay coach, Richard Kilty, who told the women a simple message before they stepped out on to the track: “Go out and break their hearts.”

The British team certainly did that. Everyone played their parts, including the newcomer Eduan, who is now intending to become a full-time sprinter. “I finish in three weeks and I graduate in November, hopefully,” she said.

Is it harder to deliver a baby or a baton, she was asked. “A baby! Someone’s life is in my hands,” she said smiling.

Andy Díaz won triple jump gold with the fourth longest jump of all time. Photograph: Maja Hitij/Getty Images for European Athletics

But not far behind was Sweden’s Andreas Almgren’s destructive display in the men’s 10,000m. After a dawdling first kilometre, Almgren gradually broke the resistance of all his rivals and lapped most of the field, to win by nearly 20 seconds in a championship record 27mins 23.44secs.

“If someone is going to beat me, they are going to have to suffer for it,” said Almgren. “I’m in the best 10k shape of my life.”

The Swiss athlete Dominic Lobalu took silver, while the world champion Jimmy Gressier won bronze in a sprint finish from Italy’s Yeman Crippa.

Soon afterwards, Germany’s Julian Weber broke Steve Backley’s javelin championship record with a monster 90.40m final round throw to beat his compatriot Nick Thumm.

“I’m delighted for him,” said Backley. “Julian Weber is my favourite thrower. A brilliant athlete. He has thrown ridiculously far tonight. Records are there to be broken and it is why we love Championships. Medals are for keeps, records are to borrow.”

In the women’s 400m, Norway’s Henriette Jaeger was just as impressive as she took gold in 49.04, a second clear of Natalia Bukowiecka of Poland with Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands winning bronze.

It was also a great night for Ireland as Kate O’Connor took gold in the women’s heptathlon with a score of 6751. Behind her were two Dutch athletes, Emma Oosterwegel and Sofie Dokter, who scored 6712 and 6664 points respectively.

Afterwards, O’Connor dedicated her gold medal to her father and coach, Michael. “He still turns up to training, day in, day out, because this is my dream – but it is also his dream too,” she said.

However, Katarina Johnson-Thompson vowed to fight on despite finishing 23rd. “I’ve had a really difficult season behind the scenes, and I didn’t know what form I was going to come here in,” she said. She is reported to have been battling a calf injury. “I obviously trusted myself to perform in major championships. I just didn’t have the preparation that I truly needed to be competitive.”

The biggest surprise of the night, meanwhile, came in the men’s 1500m. Most had expected the world champion and silver medallist from 2025, Isaac Nader and Jake Wightman, to be battling it out for gold. But Nader faded to tenth, and Wightman found nothing when leading with 100m to go.

And that left Stefan Nillessen, a 6ft 4in 23-year-old, to weave his way through for a shock success in 3:35.70. “The smile won’t go off my face for a long time,” said Nillesen, who runs a bit like Forrest Gump.