Natalia Bukowiecka won the European Athletics Championships silver medal in the women's 400m final on Saturday. Norwegian Henriette Jaeger won, while Dutch Lieke Klaver took bronze.
Winning the race, Jaeger broke the Norwegian record to 49.04, securing a significant lead over her rivals. Bukowiecka clocked 50.04, while Klaver finished in 50.15 at the event taking place in Birmingham, UK.
"I had a lot of confidence after the semifinal. I think I could have achieved something more here, even nearing my personal best - but the cold weather didn't allow it. Jaeger was better, there's no denying it - although the conditions were a bit to her favor. If only it had been warmer... OK, I'm not saying I would have won, but definitely the results would have been better. Anyway, taking everything into account - I am happy that I took the silver"
- Bukowiecka said, speaking for Polish Radio after the race.
The 28-year old Pole was defending the European Champion title she won two years ago in Rome. In 2024, she was in the best form of her life, breaking the legendary Irena Szewińska's long-standing national record and winning a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Paris. This season, however, she has been presenting slightly less impressive displays so far.
The 23-year-old Jaeger became the senior European Champion for the first time in her career. Her previous successes include a silver medal at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn and a bronze medal at the 2025 World Indoor Championships in Nanjing. She also triumphed at the European Under-23 Championships in Bergen.
Bukowiecka's silver was the fifth Polish medal (and the fourth Polish silver) at the European Championships in Birmingham. Previously, Ewa Swoboda won silver in the 100m, Pia Skrzyszowska was second in the 100m hurdles, Jakub Szymański took third in the 110m hurdles and Katarzyna Zdziebło finished runner-up in marathon race walk.
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Source: PAP, IAR