Dina Asher-Smith targets Olympic gold after record-breaking European Championships
Dina Asher-Smith, now the most decorated European Championships athlete ever, says Olympic gold in Los Angeles is her final target.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The European Athletics Championships in Birmingham ended with a gold rush for Britain, and a new sprint queen in Amy Hunt, but the week's biggest statement came from Dina Asher-Smith, who confirmed her ambition to win Olympic gold in Los Angeles in 2028.
Asher-Smith became the most decorated athlete in the history of the European Championships, winning her eighth gold and 11th medal overall as part of the mixed 4x100m relay team. The 30-year-old, who has been winning major titles for 13 years, said the one accolade missing from her collection is Olympic gold. "It would be a dream, it's the golden egg that every single athlete chases," she told ITV News. "I definitely think that I have it within me and also we have it within ourselves as a collective."
Her record-breaking week was overshadowed only by the remarkable achievements of Amy Hunt, who became the first athlete to win four golds at a single European Championships. Hunt, 24, won the 100m, 200m, women's 4x100m relay and the mixed 4x100m relay. She celebrated with a glass of champagne and KFC, and said she was "so proud" of her performances.
The championships also saw Georgia Hunter-Bell add European 1500m gold to her Commonwealth Games and World Indoor titles, and Romell Glave win the men's 100m, with Jeremiah Azu taking silver. The men's 4x100m relay also brought gold.
But the week was not without controversy. Empty seats at the Alexander Stadium were blamed on high ticket prices, with some evening sessions costing £150. Organisers said half of all tickets cost £30 or less, and the culture secretary defended the pricing. The European Broadcasting Union also introduced new guidelines to prevent the sexualization of female athletes through camera angles, a move welcomed by athletes.
Asher-Smith, who revealed she is still "burnt" from the Paris Olympics relay disaster, said she is determined to end her career with Olympic gold. "I'm still burnt from Paris. I can't lie," she said. "I think I must talk about it like a few times a month. Still, most people have moved on. I have not."
With the World Championships in Budapest next year and the LA Olympics in 2028, Asher-Smith has set her sights on the one medal that has eluded her. "Already Britain's fastest ever, gold in LA would arguably make her the best ever too," said ITV's sports editor.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | ITV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amy Hunt won four gold medals at a single European Championships, a first for the sport. | · | |||
| Dina Asher-Smith became the most decorated athlete in European Championship history. | · | |||
| Team GB won gold and silver in the men's 100m final. | · | |||
| Amy Hunt wants four gold medals this week. | · | · | ||
| Amy Hunt won a gold medal in the women's sprint relay at the European Championships. | · | · | ||
| Amy Hunt won the 200m gold, adding to her 100m title. | · | · | ||
| Georgia Hunter-Bell won the women's 1,500 metres. | · | · | ||
| Amy Hunt has 10 European medals, the most of any European athlete. | · | · | · | |
| Amy Hunt has the women's and mixed relays to come. | · | · | · | |
| Amy Hunt may celebrate her wins with Nando's and champagne. | · | · | · | |
| Amy Hunt said she had a premonition she would win. | · | · | · | |
| Amy Hunt won three gold medals at the championships. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Focused on the introduction of new broadcasting guidelines aimed at preventing the sexualization of female athletes, and the start of the championships. It did not cover the results or Dina Asher-Smith's Olympic ambition.
- “European Athletics and the European Broadcasting Union have introduced guidelines aimed at preventing the sexualization of female athletes through camera angles and the use of replays.”
- “it is only guidance it's not mandated”
Comprehensive coverage of the championships, including results, medal hauls, ticket price controversy, and the historic achievements of Amy Hunt and Dina Asher-Smith. Also highlighted the home crowd and the bid for the 2029 World Championships.
- “Amy Hunt is now a winner, the fastest woman in Europe and a great hope for British athletics”
- “I'm still next to some amazing women. This girl's a midwife. She brings new babies into the world. This girl wrote a play. We're all amazing.”
- “It's hoped the baton will now pass to London for another iconic home battle.”
Focused on the British athletes' success, with interviews with gold medallists, and the celebratory mood. Also highlighted the ticket price issue.
- “I'm standing here as European champion, not as a participant, not as a finalist, but European champion.”
- “I had a glass of champagne and a KFC that was that was my treat and it was honestly stunning.”
- “It's a very nice size and they've engraved it.”
Focused on the historic achievements and the future Olympic ambitions, particularly Dina Asher-Smith's target of Olympic gold in LA. Also highlighted the rivalry between Asher-Smith and Hunt.
- “It would be a dream, it's the golden egg that every single athlete chases and I definitely think that I have it within me and also we have it within ourselves as a collective.”
- “We're entertainers, people buy tickets, they want to see a product, they want to see a story, they want to see a narrative.”
- “I'm still burnt from Paris. I can't lie.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.