22 August 2018
Hahn stars in Berlin on another golden day for GB
Paralympic gold medallist Sophie Hahn added yet another medal to her ever-growing collection as she scooped a maiden European gold in the T38 200m at the World Para Athletics European Championships in Berlin.
The 21-year-old’s triumph capped off a fine day for Great Britain, one which featured three golds a silver and a bronze medal, continuing what has been an incredibly successful week thus far.
But for Hahn – a 100m specialist – it was a special moment, but one that she couldn’t truly reflect on, despite the fact that her time of 26.51 broke a 13-year championship record.
“I’m so happy, I’ve never won the 200m European title, so I’m so happy I’ve done that,” she said.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, but I want two more golds. I’ve got one, who knows what will happen next.
“I’ve done training runs, I’m going to treat it [my preparation] like training. I just have to work hard in the gym and on the track.”
Ali Smith was unlucky to miss out on a medal as she finished fourth in the same race, with Eve Walsh-Dann sixth.
And whilst Hahn was glad to tick a European gold off her list, Graeme Ballard was delighted to claim his first major title with a win in the T36 100m.
I want two more golds
Having come so close on countless occasions – silver at London 2012 and at the European Championships in Grosseto in 2016 – Ballard was building a reputation as the nearly-man of his discipline.
But a dominant display saw him claim that elusive gold, finishing ahead of compatriot Javaughn Parkes in fifth, with a season’s best time of 12.32.
And for Ballard, it is the perfect way to sign off on what has been a truly storied career – but not before he runs the 200m on Saturday.
“I feel absolutely overwhelmed,” he said.
“I thought it was going to be hard after the false start, but experience showed in the end. My race went as good as it could’ve gone.
“I don’t think I’m going to be competing any more, I think this is it. I’ve got the UK to thank, my Mum and my Dad, but I’ve still got to focus on the 200m.
“I’m going to do the same again. You’ve got to put a bit more in, because it’s a longer distance, but I’ve got bags of confidence now.”
In the field, a man who has huge pedigree on the biggest stage once again stepped up to the mark.
Graeme Ballard
Dan Greaves won his third European title in a row in the F64 discus final, ahead of teammate Taz Nicholls in fifth, who threw a season’s best 42.02m.
And whilst, like Hahn, Greaves is in the habit of delivering in the biggest championships, he was still left demanding more of himself.
“You come to a champs like this, and it’s all about titles at the end of the day, that’s the name of the game we’re in,” he said.
“I approach it exactly the same as Sydney, Athens, Beijing. It’s a major champs and I’ve come here for the medal. I take it very seriously, to walk away with gold.
“I was a bit disappointed in the distance, I knew something big was there but it never happened. Looking back it’s great, my fifth Europeans, fifth title, my third in a row, it’s great.
“I wanted to put on a bit of a show for everyone who came down to watch, it’s a shame that I didn’t break the 60m barrier, but I’m so over the moon with gold.”
Youngster Ben Rowlings snapped his string of four bronze medals at European level when he claimed silver in the T34 400m final.
The Shrewsbury native missed out to seven-time European champion Henry Manni, whilst Isaac Towers was fourth and Shaun White fifth.
It’s all about titles at the end of the day
And whilst Rowlings fell just short of the ultimate prize, a silver medal marks a significant moment in what is a young career with great promise.
“It’s an improvement, it’s a step up, it shows good signs for the next couple of years,” he said.
“It’s going in the right direction. I would’ve liked to have been closer to the front, but it’s a silver medal.
“I just wanted to come here and race. We changed coaches this year, so I didn’t know what to expect. I knew I was pushing well, but a championships is a completely different thing.
“There’s a lot of ground I can make up, especially on the start, but I’ve got enough time to do it before Tokyo.
Elsewhere Nathan Maguire was promoted to bronze in the T54 800m after Alhassane Balde was disqualified.
A dramatic sprint finish saw Maguire go head-to-head with the German, and it looked as though he had been pipped marginally.
But he was rewarded for his remarkable late burst of speed with a podium placing, whilst teammate Dillon Labrooy finished in fifth.
Zak Skinner came within a whisker of medalling in the T13 100m after a fourth-place finish, whilst James Arnott suffered the same fate in the T47 200m.
Callum Hall came fifth in the T53 800m, whilst Steve Morris won his T20 800m heat ahead of tomorrow’s final.
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