Irish athletes win medals at European Athletics Championships

Mark English and Rhasidat Adeleke have won gold and silver medals respectively, at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

English struck gold in the men's 800m final, overtaking Spain's Mohamed Attaoui and Croatia's Marino Bloudek at the last bend.

The Donegal doctor clocked a time of 1:45.26 for gold, Bloudek took silver with 1.45.62 and Attaoui secured bronze with 1:45.71.

"I can't sum it up [...] I don't even know how to feel to be honest," English shared.

"I think I'm relieved more than anything, I really wanted gold today. I'm just really thankful I took it home. I have my coach to thank, standing there at the 200 metre mark, strength and conditioning staff, nutrition, physiology, medical. I'm over the moon.

"It's totally different when you experience it [winning gold at the Europeans]. It's all coming to bear down and it'll take me a while to process. I can't put it into words at the minute."

12 years after winning his first bronze at the Championships, English has now collected his sixth European medal, becoming the first Irish man to win a European outdoor title in any event. He now has more European medals than any other Irish athlete, surpassing Sonia O'Sullivan, who has five.

20 minutes later, Dubliner Adeleke won the silver in the women's 200m final. She overtook Britain's Dina Asher-Smith, setting a new national record for the women's 200m with 22.28 seconds. Gold medalist, Amy Hunt was the race favourite, securing the win for Britain with 22.19 after two years of disrupted running since the Paris Olympics. Smith took Bronze with 22.29 seconds.

Adeleke, 23, is the first Irish woman to make the 200m final. Adding to her many other sprinting firsts, it puts her back on the European podium after winning silver in the 400m two years ago.

"I’m back, and I’m better,” Adeleke said. “I don’t think I got as good a start as I did in my heats, but this means so much to me, just knowing the journey. Now I just want to be free, I want to be happy. I enjoy this sport so much, I want to give it so much. Just really grateful, it means so much to have all the support, I wouldn’t be here without them.

"I didn’t want to chase too hard, because that makes me tense up, I just wanted to run my own race, and do what I needed to do to cross the line in the best possible position."

With 10 percent of tickets sold to Irish fans, the Alexander Stadium was full of support for the athletes.

"It’s the best Irish support I’ve ever run in front of, and to finally stand on top of that podium, will feel amazing," English said.

Watch Adeleke take Silver at the European Athletic Championships:

The medal rush continues!

“Rhasidat Adeleke is back”

The Irish athlete – hot on the heels of Mark English’s gold - has won the silver medal in the women's 200m at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. pic.twitter.com/yhFRZJKLwN

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 13, 2026