Dina Asher-Smith targets Olympic gold after record European Championships
Dina Asher-Smith became the most decorated European Championships athlete ever and now aims for Olympic gold in Los Angeles, while Amy Hunt made history with four golds.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The European Athletics Championships in Birmingham concluded with a historic week for British athletics. Amy Hunt became the first athlete to win four gold medals at a single European Championships, while Dina Asher-Smith became the most decorated athlete in the competition's history. The championships also saw Georgia Hunter-Bell add European 1500m gold to her Commonwealth Games title, and a series of relay successes.
Hunt's remarkable haul began with victory in the 100m, followed by the 200m, then the women's 4x100m relay, and finally the mixed 4x100m relay. In the mixed relay, the British team set a European record. Asher-Smith, who ran the first leg, collected her eighth European gold and 11th medal overall, surpassing the previous record. She later said she was targeting Olympic gold in Los Angeles in 2028, describing it as "the golden egg" every athlete chases.
The championships were not without controversy. Sparse crowds and high ticket prices were a talking point, with some evening sessions costing up to £150. Organisers defended the pricing, pointing to cheaper morning sessions. The event also saw the introduction of new guidelines from the European Broadcasting Union aimed at preventing the sexualization of female athletes through camera angles.
Other British highlights included Matthew Hudson-Smith winning a third European 400m title on home soil, and Romell Glave taking gold in the men's 100m ahead of teammate Jeremiah Azu. Keely Hodgkinson had to settle for silver in the 800m, beaten by Switzerland's Audrey Werro.
The championships ended with Great Britain and Northern Ireland second in the medal table behind Italy, with 19 medals including nine golds. The success has boosted the London bid to host the World Athletics Championships in 2029.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | ITV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amy Hunt won four gold medals at a single European Championships, a first for the sport. | · | |||
| Dina Asher-Smith became the most decorated athlete in European Championship history. | · | |||
| Team GB won gold and silver in the men's 100m final. | · | |||
| Amy Hunt wants four gold medals this week. | · | · | ||
| Amy Hunt won a gold medal in the women's sprint relay at the European Championships. | · | · | ||
| Amy Hunt won the 200m gold, adding to her 100m title. | · | · | ||
| Georgia Hunter-Bell won the women's 1,500 metres. | · | · | ||
| Amy Hunt has 10 European medals, the most of any European athlete. | · | · | · | |
| Amy Hunt has the women's and mixed relays to come. | · | · | · | |
| Amy Hunt said she had a premonition she would win. | · | · | · | |
| Amy Hunt tore a tendon off the bone in a race four years ago. | · | · | · | |
| Amy Hunt won a silver medal at the Diamond League in Switzerland on Friday. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The channel focused on the new EBU guidelines to prevent sexualization of female athletes, rather than the sporting results. It highlighted the consultation with athletes and the voluntary nature of the guidance.
- “the sexualization of women athletes through selective camera angles and their instinct choices continues to be a significant concern across many sports broadcasts”
- “it's only guidance it's not mandated so it's up to broadcasters outside the EBU whether they want to bring it in”
Comprehensive coverage of the championships, including results, crowd concerns, and athlete profiles. It highlighted the home success and the issue of empty seats and ticket prices.
- “A little disappointing in terms of spectators, I have to say that.”
- “We bought the really cheap seats, so there was only a tenner for us, but we were saying the rest of it is ridiculously expensive, yeah.”
- “Amy Hunt has marked her achievement with fried chicken and champagne”
The channel focused on athlete interviews, personal stories, and celebrations. It gave a platform to Romell Glave, Georgia Hunter-Bell, and Amy Hunt, highlighting their personalities and journeys.
- “I'm standing here as European champion, not as a participant, not as a finalist, but European champion.”
- “I think it was a tactical race. So that can sometimes happen in the 1500 and the middle distance athletes.”
- “I had a glass of champagne and a KFC, that was my treat and it was honestly stunning.”
The channel provided extensive coverage of the results and then focused on Dina Asher-Smith's record and her ambition for Olympic gold in Los Angeles. It also highlighted Amy Hunt's achievements and personality.
- “It feels very surreal, I don't think it's sunk in at all”
- “It would be a dream, it's the golden egg that every single athlete chases”
- “I'm still burnt from Paris. I can't lie.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.