Frustrating fourth for Sarah Healy in Euro 5000m final

Healy finished behind winner Nadia Battocletti of Italy, Marta García of Spain and another Italian Micol Majori

When Sarah Healy's kick came in the 5000m final at the European Championships, it was too late. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Her hands went straight onto her face. Sarah Healy knew instantly the opportunity had been missed.

Fourth. A horribly frustrating fourth. This 5,000m fact-finding mission had not delivered the medal that was right there for her.

Having squeezed inside defending champion and soon to be back-to-back European champion Nadia Battocletti on the home straight of the penultimate lap, Healy was perfectly poised behind the pace-pusher of the second and third last laps, Maureen Koster.

But when Battocletti surged on the outside with 250m remaining, Healy found herself boxed on the rail and without a response. She remained without a response as more and more went past her on the final bend.

A “moment of doubt” infiltrated her when the Italian produced the deciding charge and that moment ultimately cost the 25-year-old Dubliner a minor medal.

When Healy’s kick eventually came, it was too late. Too many bodies occupied the stretch of track between her and the podium. She spoke afterwards of knowing a medal was gone but continuing to charge nonetheless.

Overtaking Koster and Great Britain's Hannah Nuttall, she crossed in fourth. In front of her was Battocletti, Marta García of Spain and another Italian Micol Majori. The latter crossed three tenths of a second ahead of Healy's 15:40.95 for bronze.

The winning time of 15:37.84 pointed to the dawdle that was the first 3km. Even the fourth kilometre of 3:01 wasn’t particularly vicious.

Bronze medal winner Majori has a PB 16 seconds slower than Healy, but when the opening 10 and a half laps haven’t taken anything from anyone, there was the possibility of being caught by less heralded athletes in the moment the race called for a move.

Healy, competing in just her second 5,000m after the 14:48.88 posting from Rome earlier in the summer, will return for the 1,500m later in the week.

For an athlete who had a cycle of disappointing and self-sabotaging championships before the breakthrough European 3,000m indoor gold of March 2025, this was another entry to file under disappointing.