Women’s 800 meters in the spotlight as Britain hosts European championships for 1st time

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Shy as a youngster, Audrey Werro now channels her inner lion before races, following her father's advice. The 22-year-old Swiss star, known for her lion's roar celebration, is set to take the spotlight at the European championships in the highly anticipated women’s 800 meters. Competing alongside Britain’s reigning Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson and Dutch star Femke Broeders-Bol, who recently switched from the 400-meter hurdles, Werro aims to win a medal.

In late June, Werro shattered the women's 800-meter record with a time of 1 minute, 53.80 seconds, setting the third-fastest women's time ever. The current world record of 1:53:28 dates back to 1983 and was set by Jarmila Kratochvilova. During a press conference at Alexander Stadium, Werro expressed her goal to win a medal, acknowledging that the race could be fast-paced or tactical, without focusing on the world record in her head.

Meanwhile, Swedish pole vaulter Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, two-time reigning Olympic champion, seems fully recovered from a thigh issue that sidelined him at the London Diamond League meet. With a desire for another world record, Duplantis broke the world record for the 15th time in March. When he's not shattering records, the part-time crooner is also breaking new musical ground. The men’s pole vault final is scheduled for the final evening of the competition.