Amy Hunt wins 200m title at European Championships Birmingham; first European 100m/200m double since 2018

2026 European Athletics Championships: Amy Hunt completes sprint double with 200m title

The Briton ran a European lead (22.19) to claim the victory ahead of Team Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke (22.28), with Dina Asher-Smith settling for bronze (22.29).

Amy Hunt has completed a brilliant sprint double at the 2026 European Athletics Championships after claiming the 200m title in front of a partisan home crowd in Birmingham on Thursday (13 August) to add to the 100m crown from the opening day.

The 24-year-old Great Briton did not get the best of starts and came out of the bend side-by-side compatriot Dina Asher-Smith , but a powerful last 50m carried Hunt past the field and to the European title.

She crossed the finish line in 22.19 seconds , becoming the first woman since Asher-Smith in 2018 to complete the European 100m and 200m double .

“Two out of four baby. The 100m is harder mentally and 200m is the hardest physically,” she told BBC Sport after the race.

“I have had a lot of health things going on this year. It meant the 200 has been scary, nearly fainting after a lot of my 200m this year. It was an amazing race.

“I am thinking of my coach. I am just thinking of him and not making the mistake of getting caught up in other people’s battles. This is becoming a magical week and one I will remember for the rest of my life.

“No celebrations and no champagne until Sunday night. I have got a debt to the ladies. We have got to come out here and make sure we show them who the best sprinting nation is in Europe .”

Despite an electric start, two-time European 200m champion Asher-Smith could not hold on to the lead and had to settle for bronze in 22.29 .

“This is my ninth European medal in my career,” Asher-Smith reflected. “Ten years on from (her debut in) 2016, the achievement has been there. I’m annoyed I didn’t win again, but any medal I am proud of.

“It’s taken a lot to come back year on year, irrespective of whatever is going on in your life, so I’m happy for that.”

Team Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke showed great determination to claim the silver in a new national record of 22.28 , to cap off a great night for the Irish, with the 24-year-old’s medal coming just minutes after Mark English claimed a first-ever gold in the 800m for his country.

Adeleke also won silver in the individual 400m event at the last championships in 2024.

Picture by 2026 Getty Images

Athletics | European Championships | Birmingham | United Kingdom