Henriette Jaeger blew apart a top-class field to win the women’s 400m final at the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships on Saturday in a Norwegian record of 49.04.
It was a second gold of the championships for Jaeger, who brought Norway home for mixed 4x400m relay gold on Monday (10).
Defending champion Natalia Bukowiecka of Poland took silver in 50.04, just holding off the Netherlands’ European indoor champion Lieke Klaver, who won bronze in 50.15.
In summary
- First senior 400m title for brilliant Jaeger
- Bukowiecka and Klaver battle it out for silver and bronze
- World indoor champion Manuel pays for quick start
Running in lane eight, Czechia’s world indoor champion Lurdes Gloria Manuel went hard from the gun, with Jaeger in close contention on her immediate inside.
But as they reached the home straight, Manuel began to falter while Jaeger grew in strength. The Norwegian began to pull clear, leaving the pack in her wake, as Bukowiecka and Klaver engaged in a huge struggle for silver.
It was a battle the Pole won, but she was still a second adrift of the brilliant Jaeger, who won the European U23 title last year and has been the form European athlete of the summer season.
Manuel faded to fourth in 50.86, while former European U23 champion Yemi Mary John was fifth in 51.12.
Former world indoor champion Amber Anning withdrew on the eve of the race with an injury sustained in the warm-up. Her British teammate Charlotte Heinrich was awarded her place and acquitted herself creditably, placing sixth in 51.29.
What they said...
Henriette Jaeger: “It's so crazy to be here with my second gold of the championships. After getting fourth in Rome in the 200m - it's insane to be here as champion.
"The race was good. I definitely left it all on the track. I'm just filled with so much excitement and shock right now. Before the race I was telling myself I can do it, I just need to push and believe in myself. That's exactly what I did and that's why I have the gold.
"My new training group with the Dutch has paid off. It's so inspiring to be in camps with them as they all push me. They're not just my training partners but my friends too and I'm so happy I can be with them."
Natalie Bukowiecki: "The conditions were very hard throughout the race. It was too windy for me.
"It's very important to bring this medal home. My whole family is here tonight so I really felt the support - even more now that I've got my third European medal.
"It's important to believe in yourself because I know every girl here is fast. I try to stay positive in every training session and race."
Lieke Klaver: “The time was bad. My race was really not perfect but I have a medal and for now I am happy. This was not my race. I wanted to run a perfect race but there was a lot of wind. Normally I don't have a problem with that.
"This time I couldn't feel my face, I couldn't feel my body. I am a very experienced runner but I ran like a novice athlete who is not so experienced. I am a bit frustrated. It would be lie to say I am not.
"But the little girl in me is very proud. I have more things to do this weekend, and this medal really fills me with hunger to get another in the relay. I'm tired, but I am always hungry for the relay. Netherlands really wants another gold.”