- British runner ends near seven-year spell since last medal
- Holly Archer wins silver in scrappy 1500m race
Years ago, when Jodie Williams was being hailed as the next great British sprinter, she had a tattoo on her wrist: “Pain is Temporary, Victory is Forever.” It was an impressive work of art, but a lousy piece of prophecy. The pain – from injuries, setbacks and defeats – has lasted since 2014, the last time Williams stood on an international podium. But in the Polish renaissance city of Torun, Williams’ career experienced a notable rebirth as she scratched her seven-year itch by claiming 400m bronze at the European Indoor Championships.
By the time the lactic acid had started burning through her lungs in the last 150m, the brilliant young Dutch athlete Femke Bol was already on her way to gold in 50.63sec, with Poland’s Justyna Swiety-Ersetic far behind her in silver. But the 27-year-old Williams, who had been inconvenienced by starting in lane one, gritted her teeth to hold off a spirited charge from Ireland’s Phil Healy finish in a personal best 51.73sec.
