Ukrainian euphoria as Yaroslava Mahuchikh secures gold

It was a memorable evening for Ukraine at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome, as high jump sensation Yaroslava Mahuchikh claimed gold, joined on the podium by her teammate Iryna Gershchenko, who secured the bronze medal.

Mykhaylo Kokhan added to the nation's success with a bronze medal in the men’s hammer throw, capping off a splendid night at Stadio Olympico. The day began with a double victory for Italy in the men’s half marathon, as Yemaneberhan Crippa and Pietro Riva clinched the top spots. Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal then secured victory for Norway in the women’s event.

The night session's standout moments included Dina Asher-Smith reclaiming her European women’s 100m title and Ciara Mageean securing Ireland’s second gold of the championships in the women’s 1500m final. Asher-Smith triumphed in 10.99 seconds, crossing the finish line ahead of Poland's Ewa Swoboda (11.03 seconds) and Italy's Zaynab Dosso.

This victory marked her first significant international medal since earning European 200m silver in 2022. "I’m in a great place, but when you’ve got a few new things to get your head round sometimes it does take a little bit of time," Asher-Smith told BBC Sport. 

"Overall I’m really happy that I’m six-to-eight months into a new set-up and I’m here putting together performances like this back-to-back. I’m very excited (on the Olympics). I think a European Olympics is going to be so much fun and, if I am being honest, my mentality this year is just chill out and have a great time.

Georgia Bell secured the women's 1500m silver, clocking in at four minutes and 5.33 seconds to claim her first major international medal, finishing behind Ireland's Ciara Mageean.

The 32-year-old clinched her first major title by winning the 1500m gold at the European Championships in Rome. In a tactical battle, she held her nerve and found a small gap between Great Britain's Georgia Bell and Jemma Reekie with 90 meters remaining. The win continued Irish success at the championships following Friday's 4x400m mixed relay victory, marking the country's first European gold since 1998.

"Words can't even come close," Mageean told RTE Sport after her victory. "Everybody back home knows how long I have been doing this, how hard I have been trying. I've had so many times when I've come off races and not felt the way I am today. When I was getting a bit boxed in there, I thought 'my god... I have all the legs left but nowhere to go'. I didn't grow up playing camogie to get boxed in though."

Mageean, who narrowly missed out on a 1500m medal at last year's World Championships, crossed the finish line in four minutes and 4.66 seconds, securing victory by 0.67 seconds over Bell.

Other gold medal winners include France's Gabriel Tual in the 800m, Alice Finot in the 3000m steeplechase, Poland's Wojciech Nowicki in the hammer throw, and Spain's Ana Peleteiro-Compaore in the triple jump.