Laura Muir makes history with fifth gold in the European Indoor Championships by claiming 1500m

Laura Muir might nonetheless be ready to triumph over the global however she has develop into an unstoppable drive on the continent.

The Scot’s victory in the 1500 metres in Istanbul on Saturday night time was once her fifth European Indoor Championships gold medal, making her the maximum a hit Briton in the history of the festival.

Muir is now unbeaten at this meet in six years, having finished the 1500m and three,000m double in 2017 and 2019 earlier than opting for to not run in 2021.

The final intention for the 29-year-old – who could also be a two-time European out of doors champion – is to improve her global bronze in Budapest this summer season and Olympic silver in Paris subsequent yr.

But for now she may also be content material with her document indoor haul, having simply eclipsed the 4 golds of mythical hurdler Colin Jackson and sprinter Jason Gardener.

Laura Muir become Britain’s maximum a hit athlete at the European Indoor Championships

She gained the 1500m ultimate in Istanbul to overhaul information by Colin Jackson and Jason Gardener

‘It means a lot,’ admitted Muir. ‘Colin and Jason are fantastic athletes. Colin is phenomenal and one of the best Britain has ever had. It was an honour to be tied with them but to go one better is very special. 

‘I got a medal holder as a belated Secret Santa present from my friend, so now I can add another one to that!’

Having observed her countryman George Mills floored on the first lap of Friday night time’s males’s 1500m, Muir intentionally began in opposition to the again of the pack to keep away from any hassle.

But she slowly labored her method thru the box earlier than working transparent simply earlier than the ultimate lap, punching the air as she crossed the line in 4min 3.40sec.

Romanian Claudia Bobocea was once 0.36sec at the back of her whilst Poland’s Sofia Ennaoui was once 3rd and Britain’s Katie Snowden and Ellie Baker fifth and eleventh respectively.

‘I put a lot of pressure on myself to come here and win,’ mentioned Muir, who’s heading to a coaching camp in South Africa on Thursday. ‘I was quite nervous coming in because I didn’t think I was at my absolute best, but I hoped with grit and determination I would still be able to win.

Keely Hodgkinson cruised through the semi-finals of the 800m to make the final on Sunday

‘All my race plans went out the window when it went off that fast, but I’m now skilled and I will be able to deal with various things.’

On Sunday night time, Keely Hodgkinson will have to safe Britain’s 2nd gold medal in the 800m after cruising thru the semi-finals on Saturday with the fastest time of 2min 0.05sec.

The Olympic silver medallist, who celebrated her twenty first birthday on Friday with a seafood lunch in Istanbul, mentioned: ‘I felt a lot better than the heats. People say I’m losing power nevertheless it’s more uncomplicated to stay the rhythm going, stay going at a clean tempo and get the activity finished.’

Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs was once overwhelmed by his Italian team-mate Samuele Ceccarelli in the males’s 60m ultimate on Saturday night time, with Britain’s Jeremiah Azu coming 6th and Reece Prescod a disappointing ultimate.