Led by Rhasidat Adeleke, an inspired Irish quartet clinched gold in a captivating 4x400m mixed relay at the European Championships, outpacing the favored Dutch team anchored by Femke Bol. The Irish team, comprising Christopher O’Donnell, Thomas Barr, and Sharlene Mawdsley, clocked a championship record of 3 minutes 09.92 seconds, signaling their Olympic aspirations just 49 days before the Paris Games.
This victory marked Ireland’s first European gold in 26 years, reminiscent of Sonia O’Sullivan’s double gold in Budapest. Reflecting on their triumph, Irish athlete Barr expressed both surprise and confidence in their performance, emphasizing their unity as a team.
While Bol showcased exceptional speed in the anchor leg, rallying the Dutch team to a bronze medal finish, she remains focused on her specialties—the 400m hurdles, where she is a world champion, and the women’s 4x400m relay.
In other events, Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh secured gold in the men’s discus, followed by Austria’s Lukas Weisshaidinger and Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna. Italy celebrated multiple victories, with Antonella Palmisano clinching gold in the 20km race walk and Nadia Battocletti setting a championship record in the women’s 5,000m.
The heptathlon saw Belgium’s Nafi Thiam leading after the first day’s events, while Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson withdrew due to a leg injury, prioritizing her preparation for the Olympics.
The European Championships continue until June 12, promising more exhilarating performances and fierce competition as athletes vie for glory on the continental stage.
