Amy Hunt said she was living the “time of my life” after winning her third gold of the European championships in Birmingham by helping Britain to victory in the women’s 4x100m relay on Saturday.
Hunt’s treble gold brought the curtain down on a packed night of track and field that saw the fourth longest triple jump of all time by Italy’s Andy Diaz Hernandez and an outstanding championship record by Germany’s Julian Weber in the javelin. It was a record-equalling seventh continental gold for Asher-Smith, who, having also won two silvers and a bronze, drew level with fellow sprinter Irena Szewinska as the most-decorated European athlete of all time, the Pole having won a total of 10 medals from 1966-1978. Weber left it late to claim a stunning victory in the men’s javelin, throwing a championship record of 90.40m for a second European gold.
“I am stood next to the real life GOAT ,” Hunt said of Asher-Smith.
Weber’s mark beat the previous championship best of 89.72m set by Britain’s Steve Backley in the 1998 Budapest champs. The Swede took charge with 22 of the 25 laps remaining and bossed it from the front, clocking a championship record of 27:23.44 for gold.
“I have to thank every person wearing green and waving a flag,” said O’Connor. “It’s like a home championship.”
