Keely Hodgkinson secured European 800m silver in Birmingham, narrowly missing a third consecutive title to Swiss rival Audrey Werro. The highly anticipated final saw a strong challenge from Werro, who claimed gold with a championship record of 1:54.81. Hodgkinson, the Olympic champion, expressed mixed emotions, acknowledging the achievement of a medal but disappointment in not defending her title.

Werro's victory was remarkable given a fall in her semi-final, from which she was reinstated. The race, before a sellout crowd of 23,000, also featured Dutch athlete Femke Broeders-Bol, who took bronze. This result signals Werro as a major contender, having previously defeated Hodgkinson this season and set a fast time.

Hodgkinson, a two-time European champion, vowed to bounce back. Broeders-Bol's performance also indicates her growing strength in the event. The 800m final showcased intense competition and the rise of new stars in European athletics.