Full Breakdown
British Sprint Sweep: Romell Glave Wins 100 m Gold, Jeremiah Azu Takes Silver at the European Championships
8/12/2026, 1:53:27 AM
The Race Outcome
In the men’s 100 m final at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, Britain secured the top two podium spots. Romell Glave captured gold in 10.09 seconds, while teammate Jeremiah Azu followed with silver in 10.16 seconds. Germany’s Owen Ansah earned bronze in 10.19 seconds. Two-time defending champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy pulled up with an injury halfway through the race and finished seventh in 12.26 seconds.
Background & Context
This marks the third occasion Britain has achieved a 100 m one-two at the European Championships, joining Darren Campbell’s victory over Dwain Chambers in 1998 and Zharnel Hughes’s win ahead of Reece Prescod in 2018.
Romell Glave, 26, entered the championships as the British national champion, a title he claimed on the same Alexander Stadium track in June after breaking the ten-second barrier with a wind-legal 9.98 seconds. His career has been hampered by back injuries, including a fracture in 2022 that required a brace for the entire year and a later inflammation that limited his 2024 European bronze performance.
Jeremiah Azu, also 26, arrived in Britain from Jamaica at age 15, citing greater opportunities to join an athletics club and access resources. He entered the season as the 2025 world and European indoor 60 m champion.
Marcell Jacobs, the 2020 Olympic champion and twice-European 100 m winner, had been battling recurring injuries since his Tokyo triumph, which contributed to his mid-race withdrawal.
Data & Statistics
- Gold: Romell Glave – 10.09 s (age 26)
- Silver: Jeremiah Azu – 10.16 s (age 26)
- Bronze: Owen Ansah – 10.19 s (Germany)
- Jacobs’ finish: 12.26 s (injured)
- British 100 m titles in last six editions: 2018 (Hughes), 2022 (Dasaolu), 2026 (Glave)
Official Statements & Responses
Glave emphasized that the victory was about execution rather than time, noting the headwind and his focus on the race plan. He described his performance as “total domination” and highlighted the work done on his start and first-30 metres. Azu expressed satisfaction with the silver, acknowledging an “up-and-down season” but praising his consistency.
Jacobs, visibly fatigued after the injury, did not comment publicly during the event. British officials praised the home crowd’s support and the depth of the national sprint program, pointing to the recent national championship win as a key confidence builder for Glave.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It doesn’t really matter about the time,” — Romell Glave
- “I was ahead, so I wasn’t really sure what happened until I saw the replay,” — Romell Glave
- “That’s when I realised that he pulled up.” — Afterwards
- “It was fun. We had fun,” — Matthew Hudson-Smith
These statements capture the athletes’ perspectives on the race dynamics, the unexpected injury to Jacobs, and the broader atmosphere of the championships.
