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\n The 42<\/p>\n
RHASIDAT ADELEKE HAS stormed into the final of the women\u2019s 200m after winning her semi-final at the\u00a0European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.<\/p>\n
Adeleke, who has struggled with injuries over the last year, clocked a season\u2019s best time of 22.43 in the third of three semi-finals, and advanced in style as the second-fastest automatic qualifier.<\/p>\n
\nImpressive from Rhasidat Adeleke in winning her 200m semi-final in a season’s-best time of 22.43 at the European Athletics Championships #rtesport<\/a> #EuropeanAthletics<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XZ2nrV7LAa<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) August 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cIt felt good,\u201d she told RT\u00c9\u2019s David Gillick after her semi-final.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust having fun and enjoying the process has really brought me down to earth. I\u2019m taking it all in my stride and not allowing the pressure to consume me, but I\u2019m allowing it to fuel me.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s just repetition. I haven\u2019t raced that much this year, so getting the rounds in is very important for me. I knew I could do something good. It\u2019s just believing it, believing in the training and believing that I am still who I am \u2013 the person with all the records and the medals.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes when you\u2019re down and things aren\u2019t going well, you forget who you are. And today I was like, \u2018You\u2019re that girl. You can do this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\n‘Just having fun and enjoying the process has really brought me down to earth – now I’m just enjoying everything’ – a content Rhasidat Adeleke on reaching the 200m final at the European Athletics Championships #rtesport<\/a> #EuropeanAthletics<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/i9QbqeQrO8<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) August 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Reflecting on her victory at the National Athletics championships where she secured the European qualification time, Adeleke said:<\/p>\n
\u201cI was in a place where I was consuming myself with so much negativity. And as an athlete who wants to achieve a lot, that\u2019s gonna happen when things aren\u2019t going well. So, that moment in Santry did more than I could imagine for me. That\u2019s why I\u2019m able to show up here today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland\u2019s Lauren Roy was also competing in the women\u2019s 200m and finished in fourth place in the second semi-final.<\/p>\n
Roy was running in Lane 4 and after a blistering start, she took fourth in time of 23.16. It wasn\u2019t enough to clinch a place in the final, but it was an impressive performance.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Nicola Tuthill has secured a brilliant fifth-place finish after a best throw of 70.33m in the women\u2019s hammer throw final.\u00a0The UCD AC athlete, who produced a best throw of 70.09m to advance to the final, finished in ninth place on her debut at this competition in 2024.<\/p>\n
The Cork woman has now improved on that result and has revealed to RT\u00c9 that this is her last event of the season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Written by Sinead Farrell and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won\u2019t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women\u2019s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here<\/a>.<\/p>\n