Birmingham 2026: Romell Glave Takes 100m Gold as Hudson-Smith Chases History on Day Three
Romell Glave struck gold for Great Britain in the men's 100m at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, with teammate Jeremiah Azu right behind him for silver and Germany's Owen Ansah taking bronze. A British one-two on home soil, in the blue-ribbon sprint — the kind of result that turns a championship evening into something supporters will talk about for years.
Glave's victory came on day three of the championships, which run from 10 to 16 August in Birmingham European Athletics. Four gold medals were on offer across the session: women's hammer, men's 400m, women's 400m hurdles, and men's 100m hurdles The Guardian.
The night's headline act, though, was always going to be the men's 400m final at 8.50pm UK time. Matthew Hudson-Smith, described by former Olympic champion Denise Lewis as the favourite, had a shot at becoming the most decorated male European athlete in the sport's history The Guardian. His road to the final was not entirely smooth: he finished second in his semi-final, behind Jonas Phijffers of the Netherlands. But the 400m — one full lap, where tactics and raw endurance collide — has a way of rewarding those who peak at the right moment.
The BBC's coverage brought a sense of occasion to the evening. Sally Gunnell, who won European gold in 1992, and Denise Lewis were both in the studio, two of Britain's greatest 400m hurdlers weighing in on the action unfolding beneath them The Guardian.
Beyond the track, Jeff Tesselaar cleared 1.93m in the high jump, and Amy Hunt was scheduled for the women's 200m semi-finals — one step from a final that would test her speed over the longer sprint distance The Guardian.
The championships have already produced their share of drama. Five champions were crowned on the opening evening session, Monday 10 August European Athletics. Day two brought what European Athletics described as an "incredible finish" in the women's 100m hurdles final and "shocks" in the men's 100m — the same event that delivered Glave his gold on day three European Athletics.
Italy's Nadia Battocletti, meanwhile, won a sixth European title European Athletics. In a sport where a single continental crown defines a career, six is extraordinary by any measure.
Norway also claimed a relay final, clocking 3:09.62 to edge Great Britain (3:10.47, silver) and the Netherlands (3:10.77, bronze) AFP via Instagram. A gap of 0.85 seconds — the width of a single handover, almost — separated gold from silver.
For fans, what makes Birmingham 2026 stand out is the depth of storylines threading through a single week. A British one-two in the 100m. Hudson-Smith chasing a piece of history. Battocletti adding to a medal collection that already defies belief. The championships run through Sunday 16 August, and the best may still be to come.
