Mark English produced a masterclass to claim a historic European 800m gold before Rhasidat Adeleke added a stunning 200m silver in an unforgettable fourth night for Team Ireland at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

English (Finn Valley AC) became the first Irish male athlete to win an individual gold medal at a European Outdoor Championships, delivering a tactically superb performance to take the 800m title in 1:45.26.

The 33-year-old judged the final to perfection, remaining patient before making his move and powering clear down the home straight to secure the first European gold medal of his remarkable career.

Croatia’s Marino Bloudek claimed silver in 1:45.62, with Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui taking bronze in 1:45.71.

The victory came 12 years after English claimed his first European outdoor bronze in Zurich in 2014 and further cements his status as one of Ireland’s greatest ever athletes.

Birmingham marked English’s 22nd major championship and his sixth European final across indoor and outdoor championships. Remarkably, he has now won a medal in all six of those finals.

The victory also makes English Ireland’s most decorated athlete in European track championship history, moving him clear of Sonia O’Sullivan, with both athletes having held five European track medals prior to tonight.

Speaking after becoming European champion, English said: “I don’t even know what it feels like, to be honest. I think I’m relieved more than anything. I really wanted that gold medal today and I’m just so thankful. There are so many people to thank – my coach, strength and conditioning, nutrition, physiology, medical. It takes a village.

“I didn’t want to push it too early. I remember the great Nick Symmonds saying years ago that you have to ‘spread the peanut butter evenly’ over 800 metres, so I tried to do that and save my energy for the last 100 metres. I’m just so happy.

“I really wanted that title badly. We get into the sport to run records and to win races. I knew I couldn’t finish my career without a title, so it’s going to take me a while to process this. I can’t put it into words at the minute.

“The Irish support was amazing. I’m still saying it’s the best Irish support I’ve ever run in front of, just the sheer number of people. It was incredible.”

English’s remarkable European medal collection now stands at:

• 2014 European Championships – 800m – Bronze
• 2015 European Indoor Championships – 800m – Silver
• 2019 European Indoor Championships – 800m – Bronze
• 2022 European Championships – 800m – Bronze
• 2025 European Indoor Championships – 800m – Bronze
• 2026 European Championships – 800m – Gold

ADELEKE DELIVERS AGAIN WITH NATIONAL RECORD SILVER

Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC) once again demonstrated her big-stage mentality with a sensational silver medal and Irish record in the women’s 200m final.

Racing from lane eight, with British stars Amy Hunt and Dina Asher-Smith on her outside, Adeleke produced another superb bend before powering down the home straight.

The Tallaght athlete chased Hunt all the way to the line and edged past Asher-Smith in the closing metres to secure silver in a brilliant 22.28, improving her own Irish record of 22.34 set in 2023.

Adeleke joins Sonia O’Sullivan as the only Irish athlete to have won European Championship medals at two different events.

Hunt claimed European gold in a European-leading 22.19, with Adeleke taking silver in 22.28 and Asher-Smith just one hundredth further back in 22.29 for bronze.

The medal adds to Adeleke’s outstanding European Championships record, having claimed 400m silver, as well as gold and silver in the relays at Rome 2024.

This latest medal will feel all the sweeter given the journey Adeleke has taken to Birmingham this season. Her place at these championships was only secured a little over two weeks ago, when she produced a last-chance qualifying performance at the 123.ie National Championships in Morton Stadium.

Having arrived in Birmingham with limited racing behind her, Adeleke has improved with every round. A huge season’s best of 22.43 to win Wednesday’s semi-final was followed by an even bigger performance when it mattered most in tonight’s final.

Speaking after claiming European silver, Adeleke said: “I feel really blessed. My initial thought when I crossed the line was, ‘I didn’t win’, but I had to bring it back to who I want to be. I don’t want to be that person anymore; I want to find gratitude in everything.

“As soon as that sank in and I realised I’d broken the national record, and when I think about where I’ve come from since last season, I can only be grateful.

“It was kind of nice coming in as the underdog, and then I ran like I did yesterday in the semi-final and suddenly everyone was saying, ‘Rhasidat is going to win’. I was trying to block that out, but this means so much to me.

“I know I don’t show everything that I go through, but now I just want to be free, be happy, enjoy this sport and give it so much. I’m just really grateful.”

BECKER, AIGBOBOH AND LAWLER SIGN OFF INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGNS

Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC) brought her individual championships to a close at the semi-final stage of a high-quality women’s 400m.

Becker clocked 52.47 for eighth in her semi-final, following the season’s best 52.28 which secured her progression from Wednesday’s opening round.

Her attention now turns to the women’s 4x400m relay, which gets underway on Friday.

Sean Aigboboh (Tallaght AC) continued an impressive senior European Championships debut with a fourth-place finish in the opening men’s 200m semi-final.

The 20-year-old clocked 20.46 in what was remarkably his 50th race of the season. While not enough to secure a place in the final, the performance saw Aigboboh finish 12th overall in Europe on his senior championship debut.

He will return to action as part of Ireland’s men’s 4x100m relay squad on Saturday.

Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers AC) also completed a strong day of championship racing, having clocked 20.94 in the opening round to secure his place in the evening’s semi-finals.

Lawler returned to clock 21.11 for eighth in his semi-final, signing off his individual campaign with a top-24 European Championships finish.

Day 4 Results Summary (Aug 13^th):

• Marcus Lawler – Men’s 200m – Round One Heat 2 – 20.94 q (advances to semi-final)

• Sophie Becker – Women’s 400m – SF 2 – 52.47 (8^th, does not advance)

• Sean Aigboboh – Men’s 200m – SF 1 – 20.46 (4^th, does not advance)

• Marcus Lawler – Men’s 200m – SF 2 – 21.11 (8^th, does not advance)

• Mark English – Men’s 800m – Final – 1:45.26 (GOLD)

• Rhasidat Adeleke – Women’s 200m – Final – 22.28 NR (SILVER)

USEFUL LINKS 

• Full Results HERE
• Media Guide HERE
• Where to Watch HERE
• Birmingham 2026 timetable is HERE

Irish Athlete Schedule:

Day Five – Morning Session – Friday August 14^th 

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – 100m Hurdles – 10:35

• Men’s 4x400m Relay – Round One – 11:05

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – High Jump – Group A & Group B – 11:25

• Women’s 4x400m Relay – Round One – 11:35

• Andrew Coscoran – Round One – 12:05

• Cathal Doyle – Round One – 12:05

Day Five – Evening Session – Friday August 14^th

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – Shot Put – Groups A & Group B – 19:35

• Niamh Allen – Women’s 10,000m – Final – 19:45

• Fiona Everard – Women’s 10,000m – Final – 19:45

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – 200m – 20:55

Day Six – Morning Session – Saturday August 15^th

• David Kenny – Half Marathon Race Walk – Final – 07:30

• Oisin Lane – Half Marathon Race Walk – Final – 07:30

• Oisin Lane – Marathon Race Walk – Final – 07:30

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – Long Jump – Group A & Group B – 10:25

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – Javelin Throw – Group A & Group B – 11:55

• Sarah Healy – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 12:15

• Sophie O’Sullivan – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 12:15

• Jodie McCann – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 12:15

• Women’s 4x100m Relay – Round One – 21:33

• Men’s 4x100m Relay – Round One – 21:33

Day Six – Evening Session – Saturday August 15^th

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – 800m – 19:45

• Jack O’Leary – Men’s 10,000m – Final – 20:25

• Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 1500m – Final – 21:07 *

• Cathal Doyle – Men’s 1500m – Final – 21:07 *

• Men’s 4x100m Relay – Final – 21:33 *

• Women’s 4x100m Relay – Final – 21:48 *

Day Seven – Morning Session – Sunday August 16^th

• Fionnuala McCormack – Women’s Marathon – Final – 07:30

• Paul O’Donnell – Men’s Marathon – Final – 08:10

• Ryan Creech – Men’s Marathon – Final – 08:10

• David McGlynn – Men’s Marathon – Final – 08:10

Day Seven – Evening Session – Sunday August 16^th

• Sarah Healy – Women’s 1500m – Final – 21:13 *

• Sophie O’Sullivan – Women’s 1500m – Final – 21:13 *

• Jodie McCann – Women’s 1500m – Final – 21:13 *

• Women’s 4x400m Relay – Final – 21:33 *

• Men’s 4x400m Relay – Final – 21:48 *

*Subject to advancing