Emma Zapletalová became the first Slovakian woman to win a gold medal in European Athletics Championships history with victory in the women’s 400m hurdles in Birmingham on Wednesday (12) evening.
Zapletalová stopped the clock at 52.91 to win the first major senior title of her career whic
In summary
- Emma Zapletalová becomes just the second Slovakian athlete to win European gold
- Emily Newnham wins silver on home soil with a big lifetime best of 53.33
- The top four all break the 54 second-barrier in the final
Having broken the 53 second-barrier three times this year, Zapletalová began as the outstanding favourite to succeed Femke Broeders-Bol and the Slovakian filled her sizeable shoes with an accomplished piece of one-lap hurdling.
Zapletalová only had a narrow lead over the fast-starting Belgian Paulien Couckuyt as they rounded into the home straight but the 26-year-old is renowned for her superior strength in the home straight. The Slovakian flowed over the last two barriers en route to the title in 52.91, the third fastest winning time in European Athletics Championships.
But finishing faster than anyone was Great Britain’s Emily Newnham who applied the afterburners in the home straight to pick off four runners. She came through for a late silver medal from lane nine, the same lane from which Matthew Hudson-Smith won 400m gold, in a lifetime best of 53.33 to move to second on the British all-time list behind former world record-holder Sally Gunnell.
And as visibly pleased as Zapletalová and Newnham were with their medal-winning exploits, you would struggle to find a more emotional and elated medallist than Fatoumata Binta Diallo.
The Portuguese slashed almost one second from her national record of 54.31 which she jointly shared with Sofia Lavreshina with a 53.55 clocking for a surprise bronze with Couckuyt fading over the last two barriers to fourth albeit in an equal lifetime best of 53.87.
Only once before has the Slovakian national anthem played out at the European Athletics Championships. This happened some 16 years ago back in Barcelona 2010 when Libor Charfreitag won the men’s hammer title.
What they said...
Emma Zapletalová (SVK)
"It is a very relieving feeling to confirm why I was the favourite and to win my first major gold medal. I fulfilled my target to become the European champion. Honestly, I am not very happy about my performance and my run. The target was to run like for a PB but I was far away from my maximum."
"I am endlessly happy that I managed it and I was not affected by the pressure. I also felt a lot of support and love from the Slovak fans. I feel that people are following me and expecting medals, so I felt very relieved at the finish line. The energy from the fans was crazy."
Emily Newnham (GBR)
"It's always scary when you know what you're capable of because if I don't live up to that, it can hurt even more. Although failure is inevitable, I'm not afraid of it. When I'm not afraid I can run so freely. That was my strength today."
Fatoumata Binta Diallo (POR)
"I've made so many sacrifices, moving to the United States, being away from my family, spending and investing my own money and now seeing all that hard work paying off means so much. I have a coach who has supported me and believed in me. My coach has really been there for me. And the whole Portuguese team too."
"The way they supported me ahead of the final was amazing. I can't wait to go back and see them all. This medal is also for Sofia (Lavreshina). I know she will be really happy for me."