Birmingham 2026 closes with relay drama as Britain takes double 4x400m silver
Great Britain won silver in both the men's and women's 4x400m relays on the final night of the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships, with each race decided on the last lap at Alexander Stadium BBC Sport.
The men's race was the final event of the entire championships. Italy took gold, having already laid down a championship record of 2:58.10 in the heats two days earlier European Athletics, via TikTok. Britain's quartet pushed them all the way but settled for second. In the women's 4x400m, the Netherlands extended their grip on the event — a third consecutive European title, exactly the feat previewed before the championships began European Athletics. Britain's women matched their male teammates, taking silver in a race that came down to the wire.
Both finals were part of a closing day that began hours earlier with the marathons. Vainio of Finland won the women's race in a championship record. In the men's marathon, Germany's Amanal Petros claimed his first major title, also setting a championship record European Athletics. The morning races started at 07:30 and 08:10 respectively, giving Birmingham an early start before the track programme closed the show in the evening.
The championships, running from 10 to 16 August, delivered standout moments across the week. Sweden's Armand Duplantis set a championship record to win the men's pole vault. Italy's Larissa Iapichino won the women's long jump with a leap of 7.00m. Britain's Hunter-Bell took women's 1500m gold in front of a home crowd, while Croatia's Kolak won the women's javelin and Germany's Ruppert claimed his first European gold in the 3000m steeplechase — the barriers-and-water-jump event that tests endurance over seven and a half laps European Athletics.
Britain's Amy Hunt had a championships to remember. She won the 100m in 11.00 seconds on the opening day, then added the 200m title in 22.19 — the fastest time by a European in 2026 — fending off Ireland's Rhasidat Adeleke, who set a national record of 22.28 for silver, and Britain's Dina Asher-Smith European Athletics. Hunt had also hinted at a future move up to the 400m, having dabbled in the one-lap event with a best of 53.63 seconds European Athletics.
The mixed 4x100m relay brought Britain a gold and a European record, with Hunt and Asher-Smith combining to make Asher-Smith the most decorated athlete in European Championships history European Athletics. Britain also took silver in the 4x400m mixed relay on the opening day, finishing behind Norway BBC Sport.
For a home crowd at Alexander Stadium, the week delivered relays decided by metres and records broken across field and track. The final night — two 4x400m silvers, each earned on the last bend — was a fitting way to close.
