Swiss runner sets 1:54.81sec championship best<\/p>\n
Femke Broeders-Bol secures bronze in 1:55.54<\/p>\n
When Audrey Werro was a child, she was so painfully shy that her father told her she had to become a lion every time she raced. In a European women\u2019s 800m final for the ages, she followed that advice to the letter.<\/p>\n
As the 22-year-old Swiss superstar came around the final bend, she could feel Britain\u2019s Keely Hodgkinson on her shoulder, waiting to strike. The Dutch flyer Femke Broeders-Bol was also close enough to dream too. But Werro was ready to flash her teeth.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t matter that she had been spiked by Broeders-Bol after 200m. Or that she had led the pack into the face of a swirling wind for most of the race. She didn\u2019t succumb. She roared.<\/p>\n
The noise from the full house of 23,000 home fans was deafening as Hodgkinson tried to pass her on the outside. But the gap never closed. Instead Werro took gold in 1min 54.81sec \u2013 a time that broke a championship record that had stood since 1982.<\/p>\n
It left Hodgkinson looking mightily disappointed after running 1:55.01 to take silver, with Broeders-Bol claiming bronze. But the Olympic champion was also gracious in defeat after.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t sting because I was beaten by a great athlete,\u201d said Hodgkinson. \u201cI think I put together a pretty good race. I don\u2019t think I did anything wrong. The thing about the 800m is you have a million different ways of going in your head but I covered every move well. I just didn\u2019t have enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a moment, though, that she did believe. \u201cIn that last 50, I thought I had it,\u201d she said. \u201cBut she\u2019s a strong athlete.\u201d As for Werro, her smile told the story given that on Thursday lunchtime it appeared she was out of these Championships after being tripped in the semi-finals. \u201cI am really happy with this medal after a crazy 24 hours,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen I was a child, my dad used to tell me I had to be a lion. So I decided to do a celebration with that when I crossed the line.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before the final, Hodgkinson had asked the weather gods for no wind to help her bid for a third successive European title. But they had other ideas. It was whippy and blustery throughout.<\/p>\n
But that didn\u2019t deter Werro, who went to the front early. And as the bell sounded with the clock showing 56.45, the big three began to stretch away. \u201cAudrey wanted to take it on and, with that wind, I was happy to let her,\u201d said Hodgkinson. \u201cWe\u2019re all great athletes and I knew it was going to be close.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was. And that allowed Hodgkinson to be philosophical after. \u201cWe\u2019re all going to win some, lose some,\u201d she said. \u201cShit happens. Audrey fell over yesterday. She\u2019d made it back. I know what that took out of me a few weeks ago. So yeah, incredible for her. And yeah, life goes on. I\u2019ll go back and train and just hope I get it next time.\u201d<\/p>\n
That may prove easier said than done given that Werro has run the third, fourth and ninth fastest times in history since June. But only a fool would write the British runner off.<\/p>\n
There was a second silver medal on the night for Britain in the form of Zharnel Hughes in the men\u2019s 200m. Hughes ran a creditable 20.16, especially given that he has been battling a groin injury. However, he had no answer to the speed of Germany\u2019s Owen Ansah, who powered to victory in 19.95. There was a rare dead heat for bronze between Italy\u2019s Eseosa Fostine Desalu and Switzerland\u2019s Timoth\u00e9 Mumenthaler, who both ran 20.26.<\/p>\n
However, Ansah\u2019s gold medal was instantly controversial given that last week Germany\u2019s National Anti-Doping Agency had recommended that he should receive a four-year suspension over a possible anti-doping violation.<\/p>\n