Tension peaks as Schweizerin Werro clinches EM‑Gold in 800m showdown

In the packed arena of Birmingham, the roar of the crowd rose as the Swiss teenager stepped onto the track for the 800 m showdown, the race billed as the most tense moment of the Leichtathletik‑Europameisterschaften. Schweizerin Werro, eyes fixed on the finish, embodied the promise of EM‑Gold.

Medal ceremony and times

Silver went to the Britin Hodgkinson, who crossed the line in 1:55,01, while the bronze was claimed by the Niederländerin Broeders‑Bol with a national record of 1:55,54. The podium highlighted the depth of the Frauen field and underscored the Spannung that had built throughout the competition.

Werro's path to gold

Audrey Werro captured the EM‑Gold in a championship record of 1:54,81 Min, edging the Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson by two‑hundredths of a second. Earlier, a fall in the semifinal had threatened her chances, but a successful protest secured her place in the Finale.

Her victory not only delivered a new Meisterschaftsrekord but also marked her as the first Europameisterin over 800 m for Switzerland. The race was described by Paul Ellis of AFP as the expected Spektakel, even though the Weltrekord of Jarmila Kratochvilova (1:53,28 Min./1983) remained untouched.

Other highlights and controversies

In the hurdles, the fourth EM‑Gold medal was won by the Norweger Warholm, who posted a championship record of 46,63 Sec, beating the Deutscher Emil Agyekum (47,87). The victory sparked the popular rowing‑style chant that had become famous during the Fußball‑WM.

Meanwhile, the Deutscher sprinter Owen Ansah became the new Europameister over 200 m with a time of 19,95 Sec, ahead of Brit Zharnel Hughes (20,16). A controversy now surrounds Ansah, as the Nationale Anti‑Doping‑Agentur in Deutschland seeks a four‑year ban for a refused test, threatening the possible Aberkennung of his gold medal.

Other events saw Italy’s Nadia Battocletti win the women’s 10 000 m in 31:41,17 Min and Gianmarco Tamberi claim his fourth EM gold in high jump at 2,32 m. The day’s results added to the rich tapestry of the Leichtathletik‑Europameisterschaften, a tournament that continues to produce memorable Athlet performances.