Amy Hunt has become the first athlete in the 92-year history of the European Athletics Championships to win four gold medals in the same week. The 24-year-old sprinter claimed victory in the 100m, 200m, women's 4x100m relay, and the mixed 4x100m relay at the Alexander Stadium.
After her final triumph, Hunt looked down the camera and declared: "Are you not entertained?!" The line, borrowed from Russell Crowe's Gladiator, reflects a confidence she has more than justified. Her Instagram stories are set to DJ Khaled's 'All I Do Is Win', an apt soundtrack for a week that delivered her stated aim to "become iconic".
Historic clean sweep
Hunt's clean sweep means she has achieved something no other athlete has done in the championships' history. Reflecting on her success, she said: "Four golds was the dream and perhaps dreams do come true. It's so beyond the bounds of my dreams that I'm just euphoric. I can't believe it's happening. I think it will sink in later, maybe on the podium. I'm just so proud of myself and the way I've handled this week."
The achievement has catapulted Hunt from athletics star to mainstream sports personality. She is now the heavy favourite to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2026. With front-page coverage this week, TV appearances and brand deals are expected to follow. Hunt already promotes a skincare product and an electrolyte drink, and her combination of glamour, talent, and down-to-earth charm has made her a crossover figure for the sport.
Beyond the track
Hunt graduated from Cambridge University in 2023 with an English literature degree, having balanced her studies with a punishing training schedule. She now lives in Padua, Italy, and calms pre-race nerves with puzzle games on her phone. Her personality was on display in a BBC interview after the women's relay, where she praised her team-mates, including Dina Asher-Smith's longevity, Success Eduan's midwifery studies, and Imani-Lara Lansiquot's playwriting.
Despite her dominance in Europe, Hunt's times this year place her 14th worldwide in the 200m and 25th in the 100m. She has faced challenges, including mental health struggles during her Cambridge years and more recently blood pressure issues that have left her close to fainting and requiring daily tests. Having drawn on Gladiator for inspiration, Hunt now sets her sights on the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
