Werro claims European title
Audrey Werro of Switzerland secured the gold medal in the women’s 800m at the European Athletics Championship in Birmingham, ending Keely Hodgkinson’s bid for a third consecutive European 800m title. Hodgkinson, the British Olympic champion, finished with the silver medal.
The race, held on Friday, saw Hodgkinson start quickly, but Werro overtook her on the back straight and maintained her lead. Werro crossed the finish line in a championship record time of 1:54.81. Hodgkinson claimed silver with a time of 1:55.01, while the Netherlands’ Femke Broeders-Bol earned bronze, setting a national record of 1:55.54.
Hodgkinson expressed mixed emotions following the race, acknowledging that any medal is an achievement given the level of competition. She stated that she believed she would win and felt she did not make any mistakes, describing it as “just one of those things.”
Emergence of new rivals
Werro’s victory marks a significant moment, as she proved ready to challenge for major titles. This performance follows her earlier win against Hodgkinson at the Stockholm Diamond League in June, where she reduced her personal best by nearly two seconds. Werro later improved her time to 1:53.80 in Paris.
These two runs by Werro are notable as they represent the only sub-1:54 performances since Jarmila Kratochvilova set the world record of 1:53.28 in 1983. Two years prior, Werro did not advance past the heats at the Olympics where Hodgkinson secured a win.
Hodgkinson, a six-time global medallist, has faced a challenging outdoor season despite a strong indoor campaign earlier in the year. She broke the 24-year indoor world 800m record and won a first world title in March. However, setbacks, including two hamstring tears and a muscle “twinge” that led to her withdrawal from the British Championships 400m final, impacted her outdoor performances.
The competition in the 800m event is intensifying, with new talents emerging. Hodgkinson noted that there will always be new competitors and breakthroughs. Beyond Werro and Broeders-Bol, other athletes such as world 800m champion Lilian Odira and Hodgkinson’s training partner Georgia Hunter Bell are also considered potential key players in future global events.
Hodgkinson acknowledged the fierce competition, stating that it creates a strong generation of track and field athletes. She expressed pride in her consistency and her ability to continue fighting for medals. Her silver medal in Birmingham contributes to Britain’s 10th medal in five days on home soil.
The world record in the 800m, set by Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983, remains the longest-standing record in athletics.
Werro’s win in Birmingham also broke a championship record that had stood since 1982. The Swiss athlete recovered from a fall in her semi-final on Thursday to deliver her gold-winning performance. Former marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe commented on Werro’s maturity in holding off Hodgkinson in the final stages of the race.
Despite her disappointment at not securing gold, Hodgkinson’s silver medal is her 12th senior international medal. She continues to improve her personal best times, having lowered them in all but her 2025 injury-affected season over the past four years.
Hodgkinson looks forward to future match-ups, stating that she loves the competitive nature of the event as it brings out her best.
Source: bbc.co.uk