Amy Hunt, the 24-year-old British sprinter, clinched a double gold at the European Championships in Birmingham, winning the 100m and 200m, and now sets her sights on making history with four golds at a single championship. She also aims to become the fastest woman in the world and win Olympic gold, while offering support to young, gifted athletes.
Historic Double and Relay Ambitions
Hunt took centre stage as she won the 100m on Monday and the 200m on Thursday, with Dina Asher-Smith taking bronze and Success Eduan finishing sixth in the 200m. Hunt goes for gold again in the women's 4x100m and mixed relays, aiming to be the first woman to win four European golds at a single championship.
After the 200m race, watched by 20,082 fans, Hunt crossed the line in 22.19 seconds, nine hundredths ahead of Irish silver medallist Rhasidat Adeleke and one tenth ahead of Asher-Smith. She yelled “Are you not entertained?” at the camera, referencing the film Gladiator.
Overcoming Adversity
Hunt's journey has been marked by triumph over adversity. In February 2022, she ruptured a thigh muscle, forcing her to move back home to Newark, Notts., where her parents Claire and Peter cared for her. She says the best part of her success has been paying them back for their support. The scar from the injury is a constant reminder of her fortune to be fit and competing.
Hunt, a Cambridge graduate, combined English literature with sprint and weight training at university. She achieved a 2:1 from Corpus Christi College in 2023 despite her injury problems. She has vowed to help other young athletes who want to be 'an academic badass and a track goddess' like her.
Confidence and Support
Hunt, who is based in Padua, Italy, said: "Life is amazing at the moment, I am just living my dream and I am so grateful to be able to do it. I am so lucky to live in a different country at 24 and experience all of these things. Loving what I do really comes through. Confidence is such a big part of that. If I am standing on the start line and I do not believe that I can win, then what am I doing there? In every single race, I have to believe that I can do it."
She continued: "It is not cocky, but I have to believe in my own success and create a mythology around my own success. It is what you have to do to win. I think for me it was about learning to love the gym a lot more, and I have got to love it now. I love going into training every day. I want to be the fastest woman in the world, I want to win Olympic golds and I want to achieve those heights. That is not something I am afraid to say because I am not shy about it and I think it is possible for me."
Her close friend Asha Philip, a two-time Olympic medallist who has just retired, met Hunt and her parents after the 200m triumph. Philip told the Mirror: "She was a bit tired and in tears after the race when she saw her mum and dad. She trains abroad so it was a real family moment." Philip added: "A lot of hard work went into those medals as she competed in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games before Birmingham. She has the attitude that you have to adopt at the very top. We are used to the Americans being very confident and backing themselves. Usain Bolt did it and even Mo Farah with the MoBot. But the British generally tend to be more nonchalant. Amy backs herself. I do believe that she can win Olympic Gold."
Track legend Sir Brendan Foster, 78, said he loves the confidence of Hunt and the new generation of female British runners. He told the Mirror: "In the age of Coe, Ovett, Cram and myself, you would tell your coach you were going to win, but you would not say that publicly. You would not dare tell anybody else. That has all changed now, there is a change of attitude, and I love it. They not only say they are going to do it, they deliver on the track. That is the Amy Hunt story."
Mentoring and Legacy
Mark Brian, Director of Sport at the University of Cambridge Sports Service, was "particularly interested" to hear about Hunt's desire to support other athletes studying at Cambridge. He said: "Having successful alumni who have experienced both the challenges of Cambridge and the demands of elite sport can be incredibly valuable for current students. Positive role models help demonstrate what is possible and can provide inspiration, practical advice, and mentorship. We would welcome the opportunity to re-engage with Amy and explore how she might support future generations of Cambridge student-athletes in a meaningful way."
Dina Asher-Smith, who took bronze in the 200m, said: "I would much rather have had a different colour, but any medal is a medal, isn’t it? I think that’s my ninth European medal in my career. It says a lot to come back year-on-year and perform, and to be one of the fastest women in the world, whatever is going on in your life and still being there, I’m happy with that." She could become the most decorated athlete in European Championships history if she medals in both relays, with the current record held by Poland’s Irena Szewinska, who won 10 medals between 1966 and 1978.
