Rhasidat Adeleke once again demonstrated her big-stage mentality with a sensational silver medal and Irish record in the women’s 200m final.
Racing from lane eight, with British stars Amy Hunt and Dina Asher-Smith on her outside, Adeleke (Tallaght AC) produced another superb bend before powering down the home straight.
The Tallaght athlete chased Hunt all the way to the line and edged past Asher-Smith in the closing metres to secure silver in a brilliant 22.28, improving her own Irish record of 22.34 set in 2023.
Adeleke joins Sonia O’Sullivan as the only Irish athlete to have won European Championship medals at two different events.
Hunt claimed European gold in a European-leading 22.19, with Adeleke taking silver in 22.28 and Asher-Smith just one hundredth further back in 22.29 for bronze.
The medal adds to Adeleke’s outstanding European Championships record, having claimed 400m silver, as well as gold and silver in the relays at Rome 2024.
This latest medal will feel all the sweeter given the journey Adeleke has taken to Birmingham this season.
Her place at these championships was only secured a little over two weeks ago, when she produced a last-chance qualifying performance at the 123.ie National Championships in Morton Stadium.
Having arrived in Birmingham with limited racing behind her, Adeleke has improved with every round.
A huge season’s best of 22.43 to win Wednesday’s semi-final was followed by an even bigger performance when it mattered most in tonight’s final.
Speaking after claiming European silver, Adeleke said: “I feel really blessed.
“My initial thought when I crossed the line was, ‘I didn’t win’, but I had to bring it back to who I want to be.
“I don’t want to be that person anymore; I want to find gratitude in everything.
“As soon as that sank in and I realised I’d broken the national record, and when I think about where I’ve come from since last season, I can only be grateful.
“It was kind of nice coming in as the underdog, and then I ran like I did yesterday in the semi-final and suddenly everyone was saying, ‘Rhasidat is going to win’.
“I was trying to block that out, but this means so much to me.
“I know I don’t show everything that I go through, but now I just want to be free, be happy, enjoy this sport and give it so much. I’m just really grateful.”
BECKER, AIGBOBOH AND LAWLER SIGN OFF INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGNS
Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC) brought her individual championships to a close at the semi-final stage of a high-quality women’s 400m.
Becker clocked 52.47 for eighth in her semi-final, following the season’s best 52.28 which secured her progression from Wednesday’s opening round.
Her attention now turns to the women’s 4x400m relay, which gets underway on Friday.
Sean Aigboboh (Tallaght AC) continued an impressive senior European Championships debut with a fourth-place finish in the opening men’s 200m semi-final.
The 20-year-old clocked 20.46 in what was remarkably his 50th race of the season.
While not enough to secure a place in the final, the performance saw Aigboboh finish 12th overall in Europe on his senior championship debut.
He will return to action as part of Ireland’s men’s 4x100m relay squad on Saturday.
Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers AC) also completed a strong day of championship racing, having clocked 20.94 in the opening round to secure his place in the evening’s semi-finals.
Lawler returned to clock 21.11 for eighth in his semi-final, signing off his individual campaign with a top-24 European Championships finish.
Day 4 Results Summary (Aug 13th):
- Marcus Lawler – Men’s 200m – Round One Heat 2 – 20.94 q (advances to semi-final)
- Sophie Becker – Women’s 400m – SF 2 – 52.47 (8th, does not advance)
- Sean Aigboboh – Men’s 200m – SF 1 – 20.46 (4th, does not advance)
- Marcus Lawler – Men’s 200m – SF 2 – 21.11 (8th, does not advance)
- Mark English – Men’s 800m – Final – 1:45.26 (GOLD)
- Rhasidat Adeleke – Women’s 200m – Final – 22.28 NR (SILVER)