Amy Hunt admitted she was getting "fed up" with finishing second after winning 100m gold at the European Athletics Championships. The Team GB sprinter's competitive edge was on full display after several high-profile silver-medal finishes.
Gold in Birmingham
An emotional Hunt was crowned European champion on Monday after edging Poland's Ewa Swoboda to the top prize in Birmingham. She finished with a time of 11.00 seconds flat, with fellow Brit Dina Asher-Smith back in fifth. Belgian Delphine Nkansa claimed bronze.
The 24-year-old's gold comes on the back of a handful of silver medals. Hunt could only finish second in the Commonwealth Games' 100m final last month. She took the same reward from last year's 200m World Championship final in Tokyo, too, but has now ended the search for one of the most prized feats in her field.
Emotional reaction
"It feels so sweet, honestly," she told BBC Sport after winning a first individual European gold. "I've had such a string of silvers... I was starting to get a bit fed up of it! So I thought it was time for gold. My parents gifted me gold earrings to finally level up, because I wear all silver jewellery. So I think it was time for gold."
"They left me that note two nights ago and it was really, really special. Made me quite emotional. Obviously, everyone knows I'm a big crier, so it was definitely time for me to come of age here and take the gold."
Road to recovery
It was fitting that Hunt's crowning moment came so close to her hometown of Newark, with a huge support on hand at Alexander Stadium to cheer her on. The sprinter burst onto the track scene in 2019 as a 17-year-old and set the World U18 200m record with a rapid 22.42s. This mark still stands.
However, her transition to senior athletics didn't go swimmingly. Severe quad injuries put her career on hold and led to extensive rehabilitation. Coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, Hunt put her studies at Cambridge University first. She steadily rebuilt her early promise before graduating in 2023 with a degree in English Literature and turned professional.
After moving to Italy to train with coach Marco Airale, Hunt became a dominant force in international competitions. She soon took part in her first Olympics with Team GB, winning a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at Paris 2024. Although the 200m is Hunt's more natural event, she touched upon the role confidence has played in her finding a new home in the 100m.
"I think I'm so good in championship scenarios and head-to-head scenarios, so I knew if I was with the girls at 30 or 40 [metres], then I was gonna be absolutely fine," she said when asked how much the previously elusive gold medal win was playing on her mind.
"I've had that experience now with the Commonwealths, heading in as the medal favourite, that really served its use for me coming here and not getting carried away with the pressure."
Hunt showed a grimace on her face as she was asked how she'd grade her own final execution out of 10 in Birmingham. She awkwardly laughed as she replied, "maybe a six or seven," suggesting she has plenty more to give.
She'll have the chance to show it, too, as she prepares to compete in the 200m, as well as the women's and mixed 4x100m relay events this week. She could leave Birmingham with as many as four medals around her neck.
