Record-breaker Adeleke claims superb silver: 'I never cried so much in my life'
ALL SMILES: Rhasidat Adeleke of Ireland celebrates after finishing second with time 22.28 and winning the silver medal in the women's 200m final during day four of the European Athletics Championships 2026 at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, England. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Just call her the comeback queen. Only three weeks ago, it seemed unlikely that Rhasidat Adeleke would even make it to Birmingham, such were the series of difficulties that had blighted her season, fleecing her of that natural brilliance.
But now here she was, claiming a European silver medal in such stunning fashion, smashing her own national record over 200m, powering across the line in 22.28 seconds (0.7m/s).
“The journey makes this so much sweeter, that adversity I had this year, even last year, moments of doubt, scrutiny, just trying to block out the noise and be who I feel I could be – it means so much,” she said. “I’m on top of the moon.”
Gold went to Britain’s Amy Hunt, who completed the sprint double in 22.19, while bronze went to Adeleke’s former training partner in Texas, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain, in 22.29.
“When I crossed the line, I think my initial thought was, ‘Oh, I didn’t win,’” said Adeleke. “But once it sank in, I was so emotional.”
With this medal, Adeleke joins Sonia O’Sullivan as the only Irish athlete to have won European Championship medals at two different individual disciplines, adding to her 400m silver in Rome two years ago.
It came against the backdrop of a challenging year for the 23-year-old, Adeleke picking up two hamstring strains that each cost her four weeks of training and left her questioning so much about her own ability.
“It was honestly the flashbacks of the times I cried in my room,” she said. “I never cried so much in my life. Knowing the work it took to get here, having to show up on the days when I didn’t think I was worth much. It’s been a really hard year and to come out here and run my fastest time ever just gives me so much confidence. I know I have so much more to come.”
She returned to competition after the second of those hamstring strains at the Eugene Diamond League in early July, clocking an understandably sub-par 52.26 for 400m. That simply wasn’t going to cut it. Not long after, she switched her focus to the 200m, but a 23.07 clocking in Lucerne left her wondering if the Europeans were becoming a pipe dream.
“I didn’t think I was going to be here,” she admitted. “When I went to Lucerne and ran 23, I was like, ‘I’m cooked.’ But I just kept showing up. I had to put my ego aside a bit.
“I haven’t been an athlete that faced a lot of adversity growing up and to have it at this level in my life, there’s a lot of attention, scrutiny, and trying to block it out and continue to believe in myself, it was really important for me. To prove to myself, honestly, not to anyone else, that I still have it.”
She only booked her ticket to Birmingham at the 11th hour, hitting the qualification standard with a clutch run at the nationals in Santry, routing the field and clocking 22.80 into a stiff headwind.
From there, she had 18 days until she lined up for the European 200m semi-final on Wednesday night and Adeleke used each of them to maximum effect, ironing out some physical issues under the guidance of Martina McCarthy and Ciara McCallion at the Sport Ireland Institute in Dublin, her coach Edrick Floreal steering the ship from afar.
She looked a stronger, more confident athlete as she blasted to victory in the semi-final in 22.43, securing a plum lane draw alongside Hunt, the race favourite, for the final. And the Tallaght native duly delivered the medal that had seemed so unlikely.
“There were times when I didn’t think I’d be able to come back but I just keep believing in myself and this is what happens,” she said. “I want to thank everyone who came out to support – you don’t understand how impactful it is, how your cheers when I came out helped.”
The performance itself was not a perfect one, and that speaks to the vast potential of Adeleke at this distance, should she choose to prioritise it in the years ahead. What was she telling herself as she battled her way to second up that home straight?
“Just keep pushing,” she said. “My form was terrible. I didn’t have the best transition. It wasn’t a clean race. I could feel myself beginning to strain a bit and I had to give myself a mental cue to relax.
This was a return to her roots, to the pure speed that had underpinned all she achieved over 400m since switching to that event in 2022, and Adeleke’s season is far from done, given she is signed up to compete in the women’s-only Athlos meeting in September. Some Diamond League appearances may now also await.
Most importantly, though, she’s back doing what she does best. Back on a European medal rostrum, and enjoying it more than ever.
That dazzling talent is once again in full bloom.
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