Hunt wins 200m in Birmingham to claim second European gold as she targets four titles
Amy Hunt won the women's 200 metres at the European Championships in Birmingham on 13 August 2026, taking her second gold medal of the meet after her 100m victory earlier in the week. The 24-year-old crossed the line in a season's best 22.19 seconds and signalled her intention to push for two more relay titles.
Hunt, who won 100m gold on Monday, said she remains on course to fulfil her goal of "being iconic" to become the first athlete to win four European Championship gold medals in the same tournament. With the women's and mixed 4x100m relay events still to be contested, the Briton described the week as memorable and significant to her career.
In the 200m final Hunt reeled in rival and compatriot Dina Asher-Smith down the back straight and finished first with a season's best of 22.19. Ireland's Rhasidat Adeleke set a new national record to take silver, pipping Asher-Smith who had an early burst but could not sustain it and settled for bronze.
After the race Hunt told BBC TV, "Two out of four baby," and added, "This is becoming a magical week and one I will remember for the rest of my life." She had spoken earlier about struggling in the 200m this summer and was prepared for a "renewal of our vows" in the event, a change she delivered with a composed finish.
Hunt produced a decisive final 40 metres to overhaul her rivals, then held her arms aloft and pointed to the sky in celebration. The victory matched the 100m-200m European double achieved by Asher-Smith in 2018.
Asher-Smith, who started quickly but could not sustain the pace, collected her ninth European Championship medal. "I'm disappointed to have a bronze but I think 10 years after my first medal, it is such an achievement to be in a place to come back year after year," she said.
Before the final there had been hopes of a British clean sweep on the podium, with Asher-Smith, Hunt and Success Eduan holding the three fastest times in Europe this year; Eduan, who beat Hunt to win her first British title in June, finished sixth. Hunt's second gold continued a strong run for British sprinting in Birmingham following Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu's one-two in the men's 100m and Matthew Hudson-Smith's 400m victory on Wednesday.
Hunt remains in contention to complete the quadruple she described as her aim, with the women's and mixed 4x100m relays still to be raced at these European Championships.
