Romell Glave wins European 100m in Birmingham as Jeremiah Azu takes silver
Romell Glave won the men's 100 metres at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham on 11 August 2026, with Jeremiah Azu finishing second in a British one-two. Glave crossed the line in 10.09 seconds in front of a crowd of 16,000 as Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs pulled up injured and completed the race in 12.26.
Glave’s victory produced only modest times but high drama, with Germany’s Owen Ansah taking bronze in 10.19. The result continued a British pattern of 1-2 finishes in the European men’s 100m, following Darren Campbell and Dwain Chambers in 1998 and Zharnel Hughes and Reece Prescod in 2018. Glave, 26, had missed improving on a European bronze from 2024 after what he says was a fracture in his back that became inflamed, and he has been working on sprint mechanics and the mental side of the sport with coach Michael Afilaka.
The final unfolded with Azu producing an early, rapid start and Jacobs appearing set for a third straight continental title after an imperious semi-final. "And after imperiously winning his semi-final, he looked a near certainty for gold. But that was before his injury-ridden body broke down before halfway as he chased Azu, who had made a lightning start." Glave celebrated by jogging around the track wearing a gold crown.
On the podium and to reporters Glave said, “We’ve been working on my start to the first 30 metres, and I was able to execute that today and to be European champion,” said Glave, who was wearing sunglasses and certainly left his rivals in the shade. “It’s amazing feeling, and to do it here on home soil as well in Birmingham, to be able to bring a one-two for British athletics.”
Reflecting on the race and his preparation, Glave added: “It wasn’t really pressure mentally,” added Glave, who celebrated by jogging around the track with a gold crown around his head. “I was ready for this occasion. It’s just physical. I have to fill in that gap because last week, I’ve been a bit up and down with my body. I was able to come out here regardless of how I was feeling, and also show up because the objective was to win.”
Azu recorded 10.16 for silver and said of his season and championship form: “Normally, I’m quite consistent,” he said. “This year, it’s been one race great, the next not up and down. But when it comes to championships, I know I find my best, and I show that today. We always say times are irrelevant at this point. You want to go out there and race for medals.”
In other finals, Italy’s Nadia Battocletti won the women’s 5,000m by breaking clear in the final 200 metres and finishing in 15:37.84, with Spain’s Marta García more than two seconds back in silver and Italy’s Micol Majori taking bronze; Britain’s Hannah Nuttall slipped to fifth after holding a prominent position at the bell. “The race was super tactical, but then I played my winning card,” said Battocletti.
The women’s 100m hurdles produced a photo-finish between the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser and Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska, both credited with 12.67, and after a lengthy review Visser was awarded the gold. “I won the dip from Pia and that doesn’t happen very often,” she said
Glave’s win confirmed him as European champion in the men’s 100m at the Birmingham championships, while the programme elsewhere delivered golds for Italy and the Netherlands in the women’s 5,000m and 100m hurdles respectively.