Amy Hunt’s reaction to winning her third European Championships gold medal said almost as much about Britain’s new sprint sensation as her performances on the track.
The 24-year-old stands on the brink of history after adding 4x100m relay gold to her individual triumphs over 100m and 200m in Birmingham.
Yet when Hunt was given the opportunity to reflect on another remarkable night, she immediately turned the spotlight elsewhere.
Rather than dwell on her own extraordinary week, Hunt enthusiastically celebrated the women around her after Great Britain stormed to victory at the Alexander Stadium.
It was an insight into the team-first mentality of an athlete rapidly emerging as one of British athletics’ biggest stars.
Hunt ran alongside Dina Asher-Smith, Success Eduan and Imani-Lara Lansiquot as Britain dominated the final, clocking 42.05 seconds to finish more than a second clear of Switzerland and Poland.
The victory completed Hunt’s hat-trick of gold medals, with a potential fourth awaiting in Sunday’s mixed 4x100m relay.
But Hunt appeared more interested in discussing her team-mates.
Amy Hunt poses with her Great Britain team-mates after their relay gold at the European Championships
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“I am stood next to the real life GOAT [greatest of all time]. She [Asher-Smith] is the most decorated European athlete in history,” she said.
“I am stood next to some amazing women. This girl [Eduan] is a midwife, she brings babies into the world. This girl [Lansiquot] wrote a play. We’re all amazing.
“That was stunning to come together. I had the time of my life.”
Her comments spoke volumes.
Amy Hunt lavished praise on Dina Asher-Smith after last night’s gold
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This has unquestionably been Hunt’s championships. She claimed her first senior international title by winning the 100m before defeating Asher-Smith to add the 200m crown.
Yet there has been little indication that her sudden elevation has changed her perspective.
“It’s such a privilege to be able to step on the track with these ladies and the individual superpowers that we bring,” Hunt added.
“It’s no joke. We were all superwomen together out there, and it was so much fun.”
Asher-Smith had plenty of reason to celebrate herself.
The 30-year-old secured a seventh European Championships gold medal, matching the record jointly held by Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Sandra Elkasevic.
Her 10th medal overall also drew her level with Polish great Irena Szewinska for the most in European Championships history.
There was something fitting about Asher-Smith handing the baton to Hunt during Saturday’s final.
Amy Hunt could yet add more gold medals to her collection
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PAOne has spent more than a decade establishing herself among Britain’s finest athletes, while the other increasingly looks capable of following the same path.
Hunt claimed world silver in Tokyo last year after overcoming an injury-disrupted beginning to her senior career and has now exploded into another stratosphere on home soil.
She can go somewhere even Asher-Smith has never been on Sunday.
Victory in the mixed relay would make Hunt the first athlete in the 92-year history of the European Championships to win four gold medals at a single edition.

