Amalie Iuel finished seventh in the 400-meter hurdles European Championship final in Birmingham, clocking 54.70 seconds according to broadcaster NRK. The 32-year-old athlete stated to NRK that “it was completely empty in the tank” as she realized halfway through the race that a top position was out of reach.
Race Performance and Season Times
Iuel’s final time on August 12, 2026, landed 65 hundredides behind her personal best of 54.05 set in Rome on June 4, 2026, marking one of her slower efforts of the season. According to race statistics provided in the source material, her 2026 times include 54.09 in Doha on June 19, 54.12 in Nairobi on April 24, 54.22 in the Birmingham semifinal on August 11, 54.35 in Rabat on May 31, 54.74 in Trondheim on July 23, and 54.79 in Oslo on June 10.
Reflecting on the home stretch, Iuel told newspaper VG, “There was kind of no answer to get. I wasn’t quite myself on the home stretch.” Slovakian runner Emma Zapletalová secured the gold medal with a time of 52.91, followed by British competitor Emily Newnham at 53.33 and Portuguese athlete Fatoumata Binta Diallo at 53.55.
Heavy Championship Schedule and Mixed Relay Success
The individual final followed a demanding program for Iuel, who plans to end her competitive career after the 2026 season. On Monday evening, August 10, she won a historic gold medal alongside Henriette Jæger, Karsten Warholm, and Andreas Kulseng in the 4×400-meter mixed relay. Tuesday morning saw her run 54.22 in the individual hurdles semifinal, leading into Wednesday night’s final.
“I tried to have a stern talk with myself before the start,” Iuel said regarding the final. “But I have to be honest and say that I feel the races from the past two days.” She noted that despite the fatigue, combining the mixed relay and individual events was worthwhile, pointing to an upcoming women’s 4×400-meter relay with a semifinal on Friday and a potential final on Sunday.
No Regrets Over Triple Entry Strategy
Despite missing the podium in the individual event, Iuel expressed no regret regarding her decision to double up across relay and individual disciplines. “I don’t regret at all that I am tripling in the EC. The experience on Monday was really cool. I wouldn’t trade it away,” she told NRK. She acknowledged that the heavy workload could impact her individual performance but maintained that the experience justified the toll.
Addressing the caliber of the field, Iuel pointed out that the medal-winning times exceeded her career capabilities, noting that she would have had to break her personal best by over half a second to contend for the podium. Her personal best of 54.05 sits 14 hundredides behind Line Kloster’s Norwegian record of 53.91.
FAQ
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What was Amalie Iuel’s time in the European Championship 400-meter hurdles final?
According to NRK, Iuel finished seventh with a time of 54.70 seconds. -
What other events did Amalie Iuel compete in during the Birmingham championships?
Alongside the individual 400-meter hurdles, Iuel won gold in the 4×400-meter mixed relay and prepared for the women’s 4×400-meter relay events. -
When does Amalie Iuel plan to retire?
According to the source material, Iuel plans to end her career after the 2026 season.
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