Cathal Dennehy: My highs and lows from the European Championships, with good news for rowers

With the European Championships drawing to a close after two weeks of competition, it is time to reflect on those glorious golden highs, and those moments which could have been better. 

From the success of Britain’s rowers and runners, to the struggles of GB cyclists – and the lack of commitment to the multi-sport plan by athletics – there is certainly a lot to take away from the recent exploits in Munich.

Here, Cathal Dennehy explores some of the highs of the European Championships, and a couple of low points as well. 

HIGHS 

Rowers back on top

Twelve months after failing to win a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, British rowers dominated their European rivals, winning 10 medals, six of them gold.

Keeley and Laura

Coming to Munich after competing at the World Championships and Commonwealth Games, Keely Hodgkinson and Laura Muir had every right to feel the effects of a physical and emotional comedown. Instead they won titles at 800m and 1500m by wide margins.

Erin’s joyous gold

From the ultimate low — a breast cancer diagnosis earlier this year — to a dazzling high at the top of a European podium, the story of PR3 rowing cox Erin Kennedy was in equal parts upsetting and uplifting. She will unfortunately now have to part ways with the squad to continue chemotherapy.

Gymnastics queen

For 17-year-old gymnast Jessica Gadirova, there were many crises in confidence on the path to the women’s floor final, but she turned in a superb performance to retain her European title. Twin sister Jennifer finished fifth after returning from injury.

Heroic tale

This time last year, Matthew Hudson-Smith attempted to take his own life. Now he’s a world 400m medallist and European champion, the 27-year-old as brilliant on the track as he was brave when speaking about his struggles off it.

LOWS

Cycling gloom

Having finished third in the medal table at last year’s Europeans and topped it in 2020 with six golds, Britain’s cyclists won none in Munich — finishing eighth in the medal table with three silver and two bronze medals.

Dina’s difficult week

She came in as champion at 100m and 200m, but Dina Asher-Smith let both titles slip, winning silver over 200m and pulling up due to calf cramps in the 100m. She revealed the latter was caused by ‘girl stuff’. Last night, the baton didn’t even reach her in the sprint relay.

Athletics opts out

While these multi-sport European Championships were a success, the event looks to have a bleak future given the decision by European Athletics to do what aquatics did this year and stage its championships separately in 2026.