Amy Hunt claimed her first senior international title by storming to 100m glory and delivering Great Britain’s first gold medal at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
Hunt announced herself on the sport’s global stage last year by claiming world 200m silver in Tokyo, where she secured the first individual international medal of her senior career.
Having backed that up with Commonwealth 100m silver two weeks ago, the 24-year-old would not be denied gold this time on home soil at Alexander Stadium.
“It feel so sweet. I have had such a string of silvers and I was starting to get a bit fed up with it, so I thought it was time for gold,” Hunt told BBC Sport.
“My parents gifted me these gold earrings to finally level up, because I wear all-silver jewellery. They said it was time for gold – they left me that note two nights ago – so it made me quite emotional.
“It was definitely time for me to come of age here and win the gold.”
Hunt, full of confidence after this season breaking the 11-second barrier for the first time, raised her arms in celebration after producing a trademark strong finish which delivered her from fifth to first over the second half of the race.
Finishing in 11.00 seconds, she could have as many as three further opportunities to add to that tally on home soil, in the 200m and both the women’s and mixed 4x100m relay events later this week.
British defending champion Dina Asher-Smith, bidding to win her seventh gold and become the joint-most successful athlete in the history of the championships, finished fifth in 11.10 as Poland’s Ewa Swoboda (11.02) and Belgian Delphine Nkansa (11.06) completed the podium.
It was Great Britain’s second medal on the opening day of action, after the hosts took silver in the mixed 4x400m relay.
Yemi Mary John held off Dutch athlete Myrte van der Schoot in the home straight to bring a British quartet also featuring Ben Jefferies, Charlotte Henrich and Toby Harries home in three minutes 10.47 seconds, behind winners Norway (3:09.62).
