Conor Kelly won Ireland’s first gold medal of the European Athletics U20 Championships, winning the men’s 400m in brilliant style in Tampere on Saturday (9).
Tampere 2025 is being live streamed on the European Athletics website courtesy of Eurovision Sport.
Kelly, who won European U18 bronze at Banska Bystrica 2024, blasted from the blocks and immediately began to reel in Czechia’s Ondrej Loupal on his immediate outside in lane five.
He kept his foot on the gas round the final bend and emerged into the home straight vying for the lead with France’s Milann Klemenic, silver medallist in front of Kelly last year. But the Irishman was relentless, and he powered clear to win in a national U20 record of 45.83.
Klemenic added to his silverware in second place in 46.44 and Loupal held his nerve to finish strongly for bronze in 46.62.
Henrich added U20 title to U18 gold
Britain’s Charlotte Henrich won the women’s 400m after a committed run from lane four. She started fast and chased down Poland’s Anastazja Kus who was in lane five, giving her a healthy advantage into the home straight from the Pole with Germany’s Johanna Martin a big threat in lane eight.
Kus’ strong finish could not bridge the gap and Henrich maintained her form to take gold in a personal best of 51.68. Martin took silver in 52.00 and Kus the bronze in 52.23. In a high quality race, France’s Victoria Kwarteng placed fourth in a national U20 record of 52.26.
For Henrich, it added the U20 title to the European U18 crown she won in 2022.