Abbie Donnelly takes bronze as GB secure women's marathon team gold in Birmingham
Abbie Donnelly became the first British woman to win a marathon medal at the European Championships when she claimed bronze in Birmingham on Sunday, and Great Britain also took the women's team gold, finishing ahead of Italy and Spain.
Donnelly finished in 2:27:33, placing behind Hungary's Lili Anna Vindics-Toth, while Finland's Alisa Vainio won the race in 2:22:26 and cut the championship record by nearly three minutes. Her bronze is the best result by a female British marathon runner at the European Championships since Kath Binns placed ninth in 1982. The medal came on a hilly course in front of a home crowd in Birmingham.
Vainio broke away from the field early, leaving a chasing group that included Donnelly and team-mate Natasha Wilson for much of the race; Donnelly described that companionship as a "massive" help. It was Vindics-Toth who made the decisive move before Donnelly followed and maintained her position up a finishing climb. Donnelly crossed the line 12 seconds after the Hungarian.
Natasha Wilson finished fifth and Rose Harvey came home 14th to complete the British scoring for the team event. Great Britain finished ahead of Italy and Spain to claim the women's marathon team gold. The team victory contributed to the nation's overall medal tally at the championships.
"It means everything to do this here in Birmingham," Donnelly said. "I've never done a home champs before so to have the crowd shout 'Abbie Donnelly' was an incredible experience." "I can't believe it to be honest," said Donnelly, 29. "That was an amazing experience and a relief to get round the course, it was so hilly."
On the race tactics and terrain, she added: "I think it was a case of being really cautious at the start, especially the first half, knowing those hills would slowly catch up with you. Even the downhills as well, I think my quads have gone!"
Donnelly has previous success in team events, winning two team golds at the European Cross Country Championships before switching focus to road races and winning a team gold in the half marathon at her first European Championships in Rome in 2024. Reflecting on the team's result, she said: "It's so exciting, we were talking about it yesterday about how we'd love to get a gold," and added, "I'm so proud of the whole team, they all ran amazingly." "I love the people in this sport. I love the friends I've made. I love the feeling once you've finished the race. The whole atmosphere of running, it's such a friendly group. It's such a privilege to be part of the team."
Great Britain's women's team marathon gold was the nation's seventh overall at the European Championships, leaving them one shy of leaders Italy as the programme moved into the final evening of action when eight golds remained to be decided.