25 August 2018
Sophie Hahn secures triple European Championship gold
Sophie Hahn capped off a stellar World Para Athletics European Championships for Great Britain with a third gold of the week in the Universal 4x100m relay.
After racing to sprint double gold in the T38 100m and 200m, the 21-year-old spearheaded a team featuring Zac Shaw, Nathan Maguire and Laura Sugar to win Great Britain’s 20th gold medal of the competition.
The superstar quartet finished in a powerful 48.73s ahead of France and Italy in silver and bronze to wrap up GB’s 50th medal in Berlin.
Paralympic champion Hahn now has an impressive five European titles to her name after winning double world championship gold in London a year ago.
Speaking after ensuring GB finished second on the overall medal table, Hahn said: “I knew the French girl was in the lead so I was like ‘you’re not having this’.”
"We have got such a strong team, we have got lots of young talent, and it is very exciting for Tokyo because we have got such a big and such a strong and team."
Earlier in the day Aled Davies clinched a second gold of the games by smashing the shot put European Championship record with an almighty 15.49m.
Days after winning a third European discus title in a row, the 27-year-old F42 athlete added to his success by throwing 1.46m further than Netherlands Tom Habscheid in silver.
Delighted by an outstanding final throw that secured a sixth European Championships title, Davies said: “If you listed down everything that could go down in four years, they all happened in the space of six months.
“This year has definitely been tough. I didn’t want to just hand over the titles, I wanted to come here and give everything I have got and that’s what I did.
“It has taken a lot, it’s probably two of the hardest golds I have ever had to fight for.
Aled Davies
“When my leg brace snapped in the second round I thought ‘you have got to be kidding me? I was kind of at panic stations.
“We joke about contingency plans if that happens because it has happened eight times this year, but it has never happened before then in my career - it snapped.
“So I got my tape out and I thought it’s not out of reach of these guys yet so I am going to have to keep battling on, hopping around.
“I gave it everything I had, it was just raw aggression that got through in the end. A very tough day in the office.”
"I didn't want to just hand over the titles, I wanted to come here and give everything I have got and that's what I did."
Eighteen-year-old Thomas Young sprinted to gold in the men’s T38 100m final to win a second European Championship title in Berlin.
After clinching gold in the 200m, Young raced to finish in 11.66s and finish ahead of Mykyta Senyk in silver. In the same race Kyle Keyworth achieved a personal best time of 13.10s.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Young. “Before I came here, I really wanted the double, but I knew it was going to be hard work so I had to train really hard and I have achieved what I wanted to at my debut Championships.
“I have found it really fun and enjoyable. It’s been hard work, but I can’t sum up how happy I am.
“The 100m is probably my favourite because you can add onto the 200m. The 200m was special because it was my first medal which gave me confidence to go and do well in the 100. But I would say they are both equally special.
“It will probably take a few days for it all to sink in. I wanted to celebrate last night but it was an early night because I knew I had the race today.”
Meanwhile, 22-year-old Ben Rowlings secured a second silver medal of the games in the T34 800m final finishing in 1:52.95.
Earlier in the day Stef Reid leapt to bronze in the women’s T64 long jump with a powerful 5.49m effort.
Sportsbeat 2018
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