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\n The 42<\/p>\n
IRELAND\u2019S RHASIDAT ADELEKE has won 200m silver at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old clocked a national record of 22.28 seconds at Alexander Stadium to join Mark English as a European medallist on a memorable night for Ireland<\/a>.<\/p>\n The medal rush continues! <\/p>\n \u201cRhasidat Adeleke is back\u201d <\/p>\n The Irish athlete \u2013 hot on the heels of Mark English\u2019s gold – has won the silver medal in the women’s 200m at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. pic.twitter.com\/yhFRZJKLwN<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) August 13, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n 100m champion Amy Hunt of Great Britain doubled up with 200m gold in 22.19, while her compatriot Dina Asher-Smith took bronze in 22.29.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel blessed to come away with a medal,\u201d Adeleke told RTE\u2019s David Gillick.\n<\/p>\n My initial thought was, \u2018Oh I didn\u2019t win,\u2019 I had to bring it back to who I want to be. I don\u2019t want to be that person anymore.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cI want to find gratitude in everything. As soon as that sank in \u2013 I broke the national record! From where I\u2019ve come from this season, even last season, I have nothing else to do but be grateful, honestly.\u201d<\/p>\n Adeleke won her semi-final in a season\u2019s best 22.43, as the second-fastest qualifier behind Hunt. The Dubliner qualified for these championships with her final chance after an injury-ravaged period, having dropped from 400m to 200m.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m better. Who would have thought?\u201d Adeleke continued.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was kind of nice coming in as the underdog, and then I ran how I did yesterday and it\u2019s now, \u2018Oh, Rhasidat had gone away.\u2019 I was trying to block that out. This means so much to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Morgan Treacy \/ INPHO \/ INPHO\n<\/p>\n She continued: \u201cJust knowing the journey. I know I don\u2019t show everything that I do and everything I go through, but I think even showing snippets now is really helpful because it almost alleviates that stress a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are asking, \u2018What\u2019s going on? Why aren\u2019t you running? this and that?\u2019 I\u2019m just internalising everything, and it\u2019s so heavy to carry. And now I just want to be free, I want to be happy, I wan to enjoy this sport. It\u2019s given me so much, I want to give it so much.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s unreal. Honestly guys, if you guys knew, this journey was\u2026 There were just so many times I was like, \u2018Am I cooked?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n On the race, which Adeleke ran in lane six with Hunt and Asher-Smith outside her, the Tallaght native added:<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I got as good as I start as I did in the heats. I was actually talking to myself racing. I said, \u2018Relax,\u2019 because I wanted to run fluid, and when I tense up that does nothing for me. I was trying to get myself some cues, and I think that helped a little bit.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I just need some more repetition this year, so then I can nail down the exact race plan that I need to run faster.\u201d<\/p>\n Written by Emma Duffy 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 \n
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![\"rhasidat-adeleke-celebrates-with-family-after-winning-a-silver-medal\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786670782_906_.jpeg\")
\n Rhasidat Adeleke celebrating with family. Morgan Treacy \/ INPHO<\/p>\n