Great Britain’s women’s sprint squad delivered a superlative performance at the European Championships in Birmingham, highlighted by Amy Hunt securing her third gold medal of the week and Dina Asher-Smith etching her name further into athletics history.
The British quartet, comprising Success Eduan, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Asher-Smith, and anchor Hunt, dominated the 4x100m final, crossing the finish line in a blistering 42.05 seconds. They finished comfortably ahead of Switzerland (43.12) and Poland (43.15). Hunt, fresh off individual triumphs in both the 100m and 200m, now stands on the brink of an unprecedented quadruple. With the mixed 4x100m relay on Sunday, the 24-year-old has the chance to become the first athlete in the 92-year history of the championships to claim four gold medals at a single event.
Praising her teammates, Hunt told broadcasters: “I am stood next to the real-life GOAT. She is the most decorated European athlete in history.”
She added with admiration for her diverse and accomplished colleagues:
“This girl (Eduan) is a midwife, she brings babies into the world. This girl (Lansiquot) wrote a play. We’re all amazing. That was stunning to come together. I had the time of my life.”
For Asher-Smith, the victory marked her seventh career gold at the European championships, exactly ten years after her first. This milestone places the 30-year-old alongside Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Croatian discus thrower Sandra Elkasevic in the record books. Furthermore, having secured bronze in the 200m earlier in the week, Asher-Smith matched Polish legend Irena Szewinska’s all-time record tally of 10 medals at the continental showcase. With 22 senior international medals already to her name since her 2013 debut, Asher-Smith remains a towering figure in British sprinting.
The baton exchange between Asher-Smith and Hunt felt symbolic – a literal passing of the baton from a veteran trailblazer to a rising generational talent. While Asher-Smith established her continental dominance years ago, culminating in a 2018 sprint treble and a global title, Hunt is rapidly carving out her own legacy. Following an injury-slowed start to her senior career, the Cambridge University graduate claimed a breakthrough global silver in Tokyo last year and is now looking to translate continental success onto the world stage.
Reflecting on the collective strength of the relay squad, Hunt noted: “It’s such a privilege to be able to step on the track with these ladies and the individual superpowers that we bring. It’s no joke. We were all superwomen together out there, and it was so much fun.”
With three golds safely secured, Hunt’s remarkable campaign in Birmingham is not yet finished as she chases an iconic fourth title.