What's happened
The European Athletics Championships are underway in Rome, with Great Britain's top athletes competing against rivals from across Europe. The event serves as a crucial preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. Despite some withdrawals, athletes like Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Keely Hodgkinson, Dina Asher-Smith, and Neil Gourley are leading a strong British squad. Molly Caudery, a rising pole vault star, aims to secure her first outdoor title, while other athletes strive for success in various events.
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What the papers say
The Independent reports on the withdrawal of four British athletes from the Championships, highlighting the impact on the team composition. The Guardian focuses on Molly Caudery's pursuit of success in the pole vault event, emphasizing her impressive performances and potential for victory. The Guardian also covers the anticipated clash between Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Nafi Thiam, underscoring the significance of their rivalry in the heptathlon competition.
How we got here
The European Athletics Championships in Rome bring together top athletes from across Europe to compete in various track and field events. The Championships serve as a crucial stepping stone for athletes preparing for the Olympic Games, allowing them to test their skills and strategies against formidable opponents. The historic Stadio Olimpico in Rome provides a fitting backdrop for the competition, echoing the spirit of past athletic achievements and setting the stage for new records and triumphs.
Common question
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The European Athletics Championships is a biennial athletics event organised by the European Athletics Association. First held in 1934 in Turin, the Championships have taken place every four years, with a few exceptions.
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Nafissatou "Nafi" Thiam is a Belgian athlete specializing in multi-event competition. As of February 2020, Thiam holds the Belgian record in women's heptathlon, women's javelin and women's long jump.
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Matthew Hudson-Smith is a British track and field sprinter who specialises in the 400 metres. He holds a personal best of 44.48 seconds for the distance set during the semifinals at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he qualified for the fi
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Katarina Mary Johnson-Thompson is an English heptathlete. She won the gold medal at the 2019 World Championships and broke the British record with a score of 6,981 points, which ranks her at No. 6 on the all-time heptathlon lists.
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The modern Olympic Games or Olympics are leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions.