Werro stuns Hodgkinson as Warholm, Tamberi and Battocletti strike gold in Birmingham
Audrey Werro produced one of the performances of the championships to defeat Keely Hodgkinson in a spectacular women’s 800m final, while Karsten Warholm shattered the championship record in the men’s 400m hurdles on a memorable fifth evening at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Gianmarco Tamberi captured his fourth outdoor European high jump crown, with Nadia Battocletti, Owen Ansah and Jorinde van Klinken also celebrating gold medals.
Werro delivers after semifinal drama
The eagerly anticipated women’s 800m final lived up to its billing as Audrey Werro delivered a remarkable front-running performance to defeat Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson.
Werro had fallen during the semifinals and only reached the medal race after being reinstated, but the Swiss youngster showed no signs of hesitation in the final. Taking control from the front, she held off Hodgkinson down the home straight to win in a championship record of 1:54.81.
Hodgkinson remained within striking distance throughout but had to settle for silver in 1:55.01. Femke Broeders-Bol capped her remarkable transition to the 800m by securing bronze in 1:55.54, equalling the Dutch national record.
The leading three were in a class of their own, finishing more than three seconds ahead of the rest of the field.
- Audrey Werro – 1:54.81 CR
- Keely Hodgkinson – 1:55.01
- Femke Broeders-Bol – 1:55.54 =NR
Warholm demolishes championship record
Karsten Warholm produced another extraordinary championship performance to dominate the men’s 400m hurdles final.
The Norwegian powered away from the field and crossed the line in 46.63, breaking the championship record and finishing more than a second clear of his nearest challenger.
Germany’s Emil Agyekum secured silver in 47.87, while Turkey’s Ismail Nezir completed the podium in 48.26. Oskar Edlund narrowly missed out on a medal, placing fourth in 48.36.
- Karsten Warholm – 46.63 CR
- Emil Agyekum – 47.87
- Ismail Nezir – 48.26
Battocletti reigns in the 10,000m
Nadia Battocletti added another major European title to her collection with a commanding victory in the women’s 10,000m.
The Italian took control during the decisive closing stages and pulled clear to win in a season-best 31:41.17. Maureen Koster delivered a strong run to claim silver for the Netherlands in 31:45.76, while Belgium’s Jana van Lent earned bronze in 31:47.81.
Idaira Prieto was the first athlete outside the medals, breaking 32 minutes with a personal best of 31:59.84.
- Nadia Battocletti – 31:41.17 SB
- Maureen Koster – 31:45.76
- Jana van Lent – 31:47.81
Van Klinken completes the job
Jorinde van Klinken completed a superb championships by winning the women’s discus title.
The Dutchwoman seized control with an opening-round throw of 67.67m, a mark none of her rivals could match. She led from start to finish to add discus gold to the shot put silver she earned earlier in Birmingham.
Germany’s Shanice Craft improved to 65.72m in the third round to secure silver, while Sweden’s Vanessa Kamga produced 64.61m in round four to take bronze.
- Jorinde van Klinken – 67.67m
- Shanice Craft – 65.72m
- Vanessa Kamga – 64.61m
Tamberi rises to the occasion again
Gianmarco Tamberi once again delivered when it mattered most, feeding off the Alexander Stadium crowd to capture his fourth European outdoor high jump title.
The Italian cleared a season-best 2.32m to add Birmingham 2026 to his previous victories in 2016, 2022 and 2024.
Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk cleared 2.30m to take silver, while Italian youngster Matteo Sioli earned bronze with 2.27m. Sioli attempted 2.30m once before being forced to withdraw with an apparent hamstring problem.
- Gianmarco Tamberi – 2.32m SB
- Oleh Doroshchuk – 2.30m
- Matteo Sioli – 2.27m
Ansah breaks 20 seconds to win European 200m gold
Owen Ansah powered through the home straight to capture the men’s 200m title in a brilliant wind-assisted 19.95.
The performance made Ansah the first German man to break the 20-second barrier over 200m, although the following wind means the time cannot be ratified as a national record.
Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes claimed silver in 20.16, while bronze was shared by Eseosa Fostine Desalu and defending champion Timothé Mumenthaler. Both athletes recorded 20.26, with neither separable even at the thousandth of a second as each clocked .251.
- Owen Ansah – 19.95w
- Zharnel Hughes – 20.16w
- Eseosa Fostine Desalu – 20.26w (.251)
- Timothé Mumenthaler – 20.26w (.251)
Sulek-Schubert leads heptathlon overnight
Adrianna Sulek-Schubert holds a narrow advantage following the opening four events of the women’s heptathlon.
The Polish athlete ended the first day with 3,968 points, placing her just 24 points ahead of the Netherlands’ Sofie Dokter, who won the 200m in 23.05. Ireland’s Kate O’Connor remains firmly in contention in third with 3,926 points, only 42 behind the leader.
Sophie Weißenberg occupies fourth with 3,911 points, with Emma Oosterwegel fifth on 3,865 ahead of the final three events.
- drianna Sulek-Schubert – 3,968 points
- Sofie Dokter – 3,944 points
- Kate O’Connor – 3,926 points
- Sophie Weißenberg – 3,911 points
- Emma Oosterwegel – 3,865 points
