British sprinter Amy Hunt has won the gold medal in the women's 200 metres at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, storming to victory in front of a home crowd. The 24-year-old from Newark produced a powerful finish to take the title, capping what has already been a remarkable week for her on the track. The victory confirmed her as one of the standout performers of the championships on home soil.
The 200 metres gold was all the more significant because Hunt had already claimed the 100 metres title earlier in the week. By adding the longer sprint to her collection, she completed a golden sprint double at the same championships, a feat that has seen her hailed as the new queen of British sprinting. Two gold medals in the individual sprint events marked a major breakthrough for the young athlete on the biggest stage.
In the 200 metres final, Hunt got the better of a field that included the former European champion Dina Asher-Smith, who had to settle for the bronze medal. Asher-Smith, one of the most decorated British sprinters of recent years, was among the rivals Hunt overcame on her way to the top of the podium. The outcome underlined the changing of the guard taking place in British women's sprinting.
Rather than resting on her achievements, Hunt made clear that she was not satisfied with two gold medals and wanted more before the championships were over. She said the week had become a magical one that she would remember for the rest of her life, and she thanked everyone who had been part of it. Her appetite for further success set the tone for the remaining days of the competition.
Hunt still has two relay events to come this weekend, the 4x100 metres and the mixed 4x100 metres. If she were to add gold in both, she could become the first athlete to win four European Championship gold medals at the same tournament. That prospect has added an extra layer of anticipation to the closing stages of the championships in Birmingham.
The sprinter made clear there would be no early celebrations while she still had races to run. She said there would be no champagne until Sunday night, explaining that she felt she had a debt to her relay teammates. Hunt said the British team had to go out and show who the best sprint nation in Europe was, pointing to both the 4x100 and the mixed 4x100 relays still to come.
Hunt has spoken of her desire to be iconic, and a run of golds at a home European Championships would go a long way towards making history in British athletics. Her double in the individual sprints has already turned the Birmingham championships into a personal showcase. With the relays still ahead, the coming days will determine just how far the 24-year-old can extend her breakthrough week.