Hunt, who won the 100m gold earlier in the week, held off a hard-charging field to cross first in the 200m event. Behind her, Asher-Smith fought through physical strain in the final meters to secure a podium finish.
How Hunt and Asher-Smith Battled Through the 200m Final
The race unfolded with high stakes and fast pacing. Asher-Smith opened with a rapid acceleration, but maintaining that early velocity proved punishing in the closing stretch. Former British 400m runner Allison Curbishley, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, observed the tactical battle unfolding on the track: Dina was not handing it to Amy. She was going to make her work hard,
adding that Asher-Smith held on as hard as she could. Then she started to over-stride, and the hips dropped.
That mechanical breakdown allowed Hunt and Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke to push past in the final meters. Despite missing out on the top step of the podium, Asher-Smith’s bronze marked her ninth career European medal. That puts her just one shy of the 10 medals amassed by Polish ex-sprinter Irena Szewinska, according to the outlet reported.
Reflecting on a Decade at the Top of International Sprinting
For Asher-Smith, the bronze medal arrived ten years after her first one. The 30-year-old British record holder over both sprint distances has accumulated 22 senior international medals since debuting in the women’s 4x100m squad at the 2013 World Championships, as detailed by the BBC.
She also emphasized her resilience through personal and athletic transitions: It doesn’t matter what’s going on in my life, just come and continue to be one of the fastest women in the world. Happy to have done that today.
She previously won European 200m gold in 2016 and 2018, becoming the last athlete to achieve a sprint treble at the European Championships in 2018.
Hunt’s Rapid Ascent and Britain’s Dominance in Birmingham
Hunt’s performance in Birmingham solidifies her status as the breakout star of the championships. Following an injury-disrupted start to her senior career, the Cambridge University graduate claimed a breakthrough first individual global medal with world silver in Tokyo last year. Now, competing on home soil, she has captured both the 100m and 200m titles.
The home crowd also saw mixed fortunes for other British contenders. Eduan, who beat Hunt to win her first British title in June, finished sixth in the 200m final after entering the race alongside Asher-Smith and Hunt with three of the fastest times in Europe this year. Meanwhile, British success extended across the track events, where Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu secured a one-two finish in the men’s 100m, and Matthew Hudson-Smith claimed victory in the 400m.
The Quest for an Iconic Four-Gold Finish
Hunt’s work in Birmingham is far from over. Having already secured gold in the 100m, the 200m, and retaining their relay title alongside her British teammates, she is targeting four golds.
The upcoming schedule features the mixed 4x100m relay, which represents a new addition to the championship program, offering Hunt a path to an iconic four-gold haul while raising questions over whether Asher-Smith will join the lineup to contest her own place in history.
