Switzerland’s Werro triumphs over Olympic champion Hodgkinson to claim the European 800m title
Switzerland’s Audrey Werro showcased her impressive talent by defeating Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson to claim the 800 meters title at the European Athletics Championships, just one day after experiencing a significant fall in the semi-finals.
The 22-year-old, who surprised the sport earlier this season by recording the fastest time in 43 years, surged ahead of Briton Hodgkinson in the final 150 meters to cross the finish line in one minute 54.81 seconds.
Crowd favorite Hodgkinson secured second place with a time of 1:55.01, while Femke Broeders-Bol, the two-time world champion in the 400-meter hurdles, claimed third in 1:55.54, marking a successful transition to the two-lap event.
The outcome paves the way for an exciting rematch at next month’s World Ultimate Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Werro, whose career has rapidly ascended recently, demonstrated remarkable resilience and composure to bounce back from Thursday’s semi-final, where she suffered a significant fall and finished last. However, she was reinstated for the final after it was concluded that France’s Anais Bourgoin had made contact with Werro’s right foot prior to the tumble.
Her victory was yet another remarkable chapter in her swift rise, marking her first senior championship title. “It’s been a rollercoaster over the last few hours, but I’m pleased with the medal,” said Werro.
After years of being the woman everyone else pursued, Hodgkinson found herself gazing at the back of the swiftly ascending Werro. The Swiss athlete took the lead right from the start and, during the final 200 meters, looked sideways multiple times to check if Hodgkinson was gaining on her shoulder.
She need not have worried, as she surged down the home straight, leaving the Olympic champion far behind.
I have a range of mixed emotions,” Hodgkinson shared with the BBC. Given the level of competition, any medal represents a significant achievement and adds to my collection, so I can always find satisfaction in that. However, as the defending champion, I felt compelled to take that step. ” I’ve mentioned throughout the year that being part of such a competitive event is truly motivating,” she remarked regarding the quality of the participants. I truly appreciate it; I believe it highlights my strengths beautifully. Championship racing is the essence of it all.
Werro achieved an astonishing time of 1:53.80 at the Paris Diamond League on June 28, marking the third fastest time in history. Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova set the world record of 1:53.28 in 1983.
Karsten Warholm of Norway achieved his fourth consecutive European title in the 400m hurdles, finishing with a time of 46.63 seconds, thereby breaking his championship record.
This is incredibly significant, and I now hold more European golds than anyone else in the 400m hurdles,” Warholm shared with the BBC. That is what drives me now as I begin to age.
Italian Gianmarco Tamberi, who has faced injuries over the past few seasons, successfully cleared 2.32 meters to secure his fourth European high jump gold medal.
