Day 4 - Morning Session Athletics: European Championships

Eilidh Child looking good so far. As smooth as you like. Jessica Judd

takes on Lynsey Sharp. There will be two Britons in the final. I am so

pressed with this young lady, she is the real deal. It will be tight for

second place, Williams just gets into second. Jodie Williams is

clear. This is the grin again, Adam Gemili running well. It is a great

feeling. Will Sharman clatters a hurdle. Will

Sharman, silver medal. I just told myself, just one last effort.

STUDIO: I really hope the weather is nice way you are because here it is

raining. We started Glasgow and the Commonwealth Games in beautiful

sunshine and it has not been quite like that in Zurich. Cooly, he has

got a cagoule on. That tells me he is not a proper cow! That is my

conclusion! Lada would you agree with that Denise? He is a crazy

cow! But I don't think he is real! But he has got some skills. We saw

some brilliant skills in the hurdles and the 200 metres last night.

Those 200 metres, both the men and women, very good. Adam Gemili looked

particularly impressive last night. He seemed to just post. He made it

look easy. -- he seemed to coast. It really is between him and limit true

-- Lemaitre. That French -British fight. And the women. Really super.

And the hurdles, Colin? Will Sharman has got two silver medals. He has

also got a lifetime best out of here in Z?rich. But he may reflect in the

future, think, there was a chance for me to become a champion twice.

We would love for you to get in touch. Andy Turner is coming in

later. He announced his retirement for these championships. We have the

steeplechase as well. The stripping Frenchman has been disqualified,

what did you think of that? We also have the 1500 metres for women. What

about this morning, this is what is coming up.

Morgan Lake is just doing the high jump, she is the world junior

champion. Men's 1500 metres. It is just two heats. Chris O'Hare and

Charlie Grice running for Britain. Let's take a look at Morgan Lake out

there, I am sure she is not enjoying these conditions but the rain has

stopped. It really is not ideal conditions at all.

Final of the men's 110-metre hurdles.

Will Sharman, so close to the silver medal. With Martinot-Lagarde. The

barrier, the mistake, the clattering of the hurdles. It has cost Will

Sharman and that is painful to take, he was out in front and the

gold medal was calling and he has been denied. It is instead the

defending champion. You clattered a couple of hurdles? I

kind of got away when I slapped it with the league leg -- lead leg but

I didn't really. Mixed emotions. Because I knew I was in the lead. I

knew where it Shubenkov is good and I did not expect to be in the lead

but I dominated from the start, which is why I was gutted because I

could have done more. But going into this, I was bronze medal hopeful

with Pascal being the favourite. Shubenkov being the second

favourite. At the good thing is that my coach, we have been working on

increasing my absolute time so if I do make a mistake in the final, I

can still come away with the medals and that has happened today. A new

personal best, you are getting better year by year. I think there

is still more to come. As we can see by that final. Going on the start

line, I was quite tired having run a personal best not long before. I

just kept saying to myself, just one last effort, one last effort. When

your body is quite drained, the chips are down, when you have to

produce your best result, and I almost did. Silver medal for Will

Sharman but was it a missed opportunity? We talked about body

language of athletes when they come off. He talked about a missed

opportunity but I am not sure he was massively disappointed in the way he

was in the Commonwealth Games. Perhaps because he felt they were

better men out there. With proven championship records. I think he

should be disappointed because maybe in his analysis just after, he said

he was aware that... He looked at the guys and at their form and he

knew that he had to do his thing. I think he should have focused on his

own lane and his own race and I think he could have won that. The

harsh reality is that two finals in a row, he has made mistakes which

have cost him. They have cost him the title, not just places. That

will be the most frustrating thing. He went to brand-new territory here.

He went to 13.2 for the first time. The hurdles will be coming at him

much quicker than he has been used to in the past. I can understand why

you make those critical mistakes when it matters. But then you have

to say, am I here to run quickly or am I here to win titles and win

medals? You have to take your foot off the gas a little bit to play it

safe and get those medals. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde did not do that. He

has made those mistakes before. Will Sharman knows where he is strong and

he made a mistake at the Commonwealth Games and he would be

did it here at the European Championships. In your own mind, you

have to think yourself, what am I doing and what do I need to do?

Sometimes you have to play it safe to get hardware. Because

Martinot-Lagarde was such a clear favourite, Will Sharman is thinking,

I have not got the luxury of playing it safe. But he still did not run

his own race and you have to do that. It is a technical event. You

have to weigh it up when you come to a Championships and make a decision,

how will you take on this race. Plenty of times in the season to run

quickly, I am just saying that Will Sharman will be quite frustrated

with this because he can win those medals and he can win the title. But

you cannot alter your speed in the race. There is a fine line between

racing, being competitive, there are eight people, but you almost have to

have tunnel vision in that lane. The moment your attention starts to

drift to your periphery and the people on the outside or inside of

you, that is when you make mistakes. I don't think you have time to make

those adjustments, I am going to quickly,

had to do was get with him. If Will Sharman had kept his calm I am sure

he could have glided past him because he is a far better

technician at the back end of the race. You are a world record-holder

and multiple world champion, you must have had the confidence of

knowing what you needed to do. You sense that Will is still trying to

find his way and become a champion. I think you are right. He is clearly

in the best shape of his life. And I just think maybe he gave

Martinot-Lagarde a bit too much respect. But you need a clean race

and you have to give yourself a chance to run quick in the final and

Shubenkov was the only one who did that. He hardly hit a barrier. If

you have that kind of clean race, that is when you will win medals.

Wright take a look at the head and shot and see what happened. Not

least, Bascou in Lane 7 who ended up getting disqualified. Nobody was

even putting him in the mix for the medals. Crashed into that barrier

and he ended up throwing himself over to the other side of the lane

towards the runner next them. I think it is a little bit harsh he

has got disqualified because it happens on many occasions.

I think there was a little bit of a harsh disqualification. What about

Pascal Martinot-Lagarde? He looked so good in the semifinals, may be

cocky and a little complacent, what do you make of it, a lack of bottle?

Yellow muck Colin could be right, searching for that quick time. When

you have not got a medal, just get a medal. Rely on your technique and

trust in it and he did not do that. He started pushing. He hit hurdles.

It was his messiest grace of the season. You are right.

This highly hurdles field is one of the best in the world. There are

only perhaps two athletes that are missing who can run consistently

fast as this field. Now you have to put Will in the real world as well

and he is one of the best high hurdle is in the world and he

demonstrated that yesterday. Even though he made a couple of mistakes,

he still picked up the hardware. We are not being too critical, people

may be thinking we are being too critical, but he will definitely

improve and we hope next year he will learn from this. This clearly

highlights what pressure does to an athlete. You can be in great shape

like Martinot-Lagarde, and he has run quick, but adding expectations,

the French are just the same as we are and we expect our athletes to do

well, especially when they are demonstrating good times, we expect

them to win medals. We have mentioned Morgan Lake, let's hear a

little bit more from this young superstar. Congratulations on your

achievement. You could have gone to the Commonwealth, but you targeted

that instead. I think I made the right decision. I wanted that

experience of being against people more my level and fighting against

people my age. This bit in Zurich is the next stepping

people my age. This bit in Zurich is the stone for you. Is that how you

perceive it? Yes, my first senior competition, a big stepping stone in

my career. perceive it? Yes, my first senior

competition, a big stepping This is an individual event, an event that

you excel at, the high jump. What is your thought on that? There will be

shorter sessions of preparation in the build-up to the event but it

will be quite exciting to focus on that. The rain has stopped, Morgan

Lake has got her foot off, and she will be looking for qualification in

the high jump. The world junior champion in two events, it has been

quite a season for her. Quite a season already, and I am sure she

has been enjoying it. She was delighted with both of those gold

medals. It gives you the confidence that things are going in the right

direction, that your training is good. And she has wonderful support

from her family. Her father used to be a Choupo jumper so he -- Pro used

to be a jumper so... All of the girls are older than she is, but

this is one of her stronger event, and she needs that 194 to

automatically qualify this morning, and I hope she goes out and enjoys

it and learns from this experience. It was her decision to focus on this

event and you endorsed the decision? Yes. I think athletes of a certain

age should do these championships. It is right to compete against

similar athletes, but if you can step up into this arena, take that

opportunity. It will stand you in good stead as you progress. Looking

across all of her event, the high jump is a strength, but where else

would you analyse her strengths and weaknesses? There is her growth and

strength which it needs to be in proof. She is only 17 associate has

a long way to go and develop. Her general speed concerns me. We have

seen athletes attack in a complete different way. We have seen just as

has great speed -- Jessica, who has great speed, and Martin will have to

work more on her long jump -- and Morgan Lake will have to work on her

long jump, because I don't think she gets the same kind of speed that

Jessica does. One of the things that hurdles can do, it can't force your

speed, so she can get some kind of improvement there. -- it can enforce

your speed. She did not do too badly. So we will see. Let's go out

and see how she is getting on. A gloomy day here in Zurich, but

possibly the brightest ray of sunshine on the British team, Morgan

Lake. She goes clear. Soaking wet. It was Proper rain during the

warm-up. The stuff that gets you really wet. The athletes cowered

under the shelters, and Morgan Lake, a good start. That was her

pass, 170 -- 1.70. The other end of the Stadium, should when it's of

Germany. One of only 16 athletes and disqualification. 12 from 16, on the

illuminating four. Quite unusual -- only eliminating four. Always throws

down the right-hand side. I think that is a nod of approval. Way

beyond qualifying for the finals on Sunday. Another qualification and

process of the moment is the discus. 57.50. That is way beyond

qualifying. Quite a little qualification and given the standard

of all the athletes here. 22 athletes in the women's discus.

Silver medallist from last year, making qualifying looking -- look

very easy. She has matters of right in contention for sure. She can go

away and prepare for that final. A bit of a confidence boost. A junior

champion of two years ago, 21 years of age. You can see the rain. It

makes it difficult. She kept her grip. All about the grip. It makes

the surface potentially very slippery and the fiddly to qualify.

Try and keep things dry as you can. Sometimes you just lose the will and

give in. It is cold as well. Just 14 degrees. Morgan Lake, champion of

the world in the junior ranks earlier this summer will sub it has

been a golden summer so far. Here for the experience and started with

a good clearance, 1.75, as we saw earlier. Well, I think Morgan Lake

is about to go back and jumped so we will keep an eye out on that. The

high jump, that can happen. Yes. What happens in the rain, you have

to be able to trust your plants, and that is important. It is the set up.

It makes the jump so much easier, so she has to plant well. And the know,

it is all about that plant foot. -- Denyse would know. Right foot plant

coming in from that left-hand side, and of course, you can't look down

or question it. Unequivocal faith that it will stick. Morgan Lake

looking very comfortable at 1.80. The perfect start so far. Remind

yourself she is only 17 years of age. She is handling the pressure

very well indeed. A reasonable chance of making the final, hasn't

she? I think so. She is a competent young women and she is jumping

really well, so there is no reason why she cannot make that final. From

there, anything can happen. I am not expecting her to take a medal, but

when the conditions are not really good, people make mistakes. It only

takes one person to slip, which we saw in the men's qualification, and

that sent ripples around the whole field that conditions are really

bad. Get to know the team. That will be important and serve her well

later in the year. Yes, just sneak in and blend in with the team. She

is going to come into the background. When you have Catarina

Johnson-Thompson there, she can just sneak in behind and develop, and it

gives her time to develop without the pressure. Doing an event like

this, it is good grounding. You make a very good point, both of you,

about being introduced into the team. It is quite a nerve-racking

experience. You don't really know everybody. Who do you go sit with

when you go to eat? Yes. It takes some time to get that sense of

belonging and to feel like part of that team. You see the little groups

coming down to breakfast, and it is horrible, can I sit with them? This

angel? Come on! A can guarantee you the men are enjoying the

conditions. We are looking out for Robert Hafford and, he was the world

champion -- Hathorne in, and he was the world champion and he is hoping

to become the European champion as well. We have Steve Cram in the

commentary box, and along him the -- alongside him, Tom Bosworth. The

best performance by a British athlete in a walk since the 1980s. A

very good morning to both of you. the atmosphere. You are going to go

out and take part in an event like this, you do not want it to be warm

and humid, but it is obviously very wet and potentially a bit slippery.

Tom, you are very welcome. It was a bit wet when you are out there the

other day. It was perfect conditions, really, and it was a

great race. At the right time to dwell and to aid the people back

that went up a bit too quickly. I was watching him, we were following

it on the computer, we were taking people off, moving up to the field,

and then just watching this race, this is the defending champion, who

is having a great event again this morning, but Hafford and --

Heffernan, does he time -- have time to get up to the leader? They are

still pushing it at the front. He is a stretching his lead now. We will

see what happens in the latter half. It has been a fast first half. If

you are not aware, the 50 K walk taking place downtown in Zurich, it

is a two km loop, and the tramlines are a major feature. Paula Radcliffe

will be with us tomorrow for this event. The tramlines have been

filled with a rope which is made of banana leaves, eye and told, and I

am just going to bring you in, Paula. You actually know it did as,

don't you? His light is a teacher and she is looking for a job and

possibly looking to relocate -- his wife is a teacher and she is looking

for a job and possibly to relocate. We will have Paula a Child watch

will stop you -- we will have Paula on Child watch. To be fair, you have

got to grade your own race and go on how you are feeling. There is still

over 20 K left to go. Robert looks comfortable in this group. He is

going to be wanting to pull the leader to the back. The world

champion currently in that group, vying for third spot, Diniz, the

defending champion, is leading, and he has the Russian athlete not too

far behind him at this moment. Still fairly early. There is the Russian

just about two or three seconds behind the leader. A short Paula

Radcliffe run alongside tram line number two, and you find yourself in

the Letzigrund Stadium at the start of this morning's track action. This

is the first heat. The women are going to get wet anyway so the rate

and will not make much difference to them. -- the rain will not make much

difference to them. 15 athletes will progress to the finals, the top five

and the top fastest losers. No British athlete in this, which is a

real shame. Rachel Bamford ran so well. All of them very close to the

qualification mark that had been set by British Athletics, 9.43, and Iraq

and that nine point -- and I think that two or three seconds near that

Mark, we will see them through to the final, honestly. There was a

case to argue under the potential of the juniors to come to these

competitions -- championships. I am sure they are currently running

today and they will be qualified. Eriksson of Finland is an

outstanding runner as she has already had a great year.

This young lady leading the charge as far as Europe is concerned,

Eriksson. She has had a great season. She is trying to make

herself a better all-round athlete. If you are going to do well in

Championships against Ethiopians and Kenyans, you need that speed as well

as the strength to run this tough event. Absolutely.

should look out for. It is not and event where there are any real

outstanding favourites although think I we should keep an eye on

Eriksson. These races... For some of these athletes, when they do get to

the final, it'll be interesting to see whether those personal bests any

relevance whatsoever. Unless we have somebody who has

really been inspired by the frontrunning...

Eriksson setting the early pace, nothing too difficult. She wants to

improve and she is leading them at a decent pace.

We have seen Schwanitz already booked herself in the final.

This athlete is a European indoor bronze champion.

It is always a nice feeling when you get over qualifying early on.

Especially today when it is raining. You can get out of the rain, get

dry, eat and get your mind on the final. And prepare. Prepare to

challenge the medals. The sparse crowd in here this

morning, delighted to see Schlumpf. What a fantastic name that is. It

means Smurf in French, I am pretty sure. But it is not French is it?

Jemma they speak French in parts of Switzerland. I will have to get the

linguists on that, I do not accept that! I am not having it! We can

find this out if we have got nothing better to do! It is Schlumpf who is

leading. And Mismas coming through as well. Eriksson just on their

shoulder. They are almost jogging at the

moment. Only five set to go through. This is Morgan Lake. That is her

first failure of the morning. It did not look quite as committed. The

first one looked very good indeed. That looks may be a little just

within herself. She probably will need that one metre 85 to qualify.

1.94 is automatic. In wet conditions, it is made more

difficult. Smurf gate continues! We have looked it up. Apologies, I got

it wrong. A couple of slow laps and they are

just starting to gather. That technique of Ericsson's. --

Eriksson's. She had a great run in the Glasgow diamond league. Eriksson

just having a little look around. She can sense four or five are

starting to move clear. She will be happy Vlasova is starting to stretch

them a little. Six girls starting to break away. Mismas of Slovenia just

struggling to hold onto the back of those first five although she star

have a chance. -- she will still have a chance. Vlasova stretching

them out and with those four pulling away, there is a battle for fifth

place. Mismas will be aware of that. And Schlumpf. They can now work

together little bit to try to close that gap. They can pull each other

to a faster time as well. This time round, it will be the

bell. Cleanly over. I like the way Eriksson is looking around and

checking things way things are. -- checking where things are.

Eriksson can also look up at the screen. She has run an intelligent

race, nothing more than she needed to do and kept herself in the right

place. She will have picked up some experience and good advice from her

coach. Mismas starting to make a bit of an effort here. Schlumpf will try

to hold her. Top five don't forget. Four well clear. Eriksson keep s

looking around. You would suspect six of them would

go through anyway because there is a big gap between Osman Caer and

Schlumpf. It is not over yet. The Swiss

athlete is being cheered by the crowd and she picks it up again.

Eriksson, Schlumpf also guarantees her spot in the final.

The others will have to wait and see, including Casandra.

Now then, Morgan Lake. This is his second attempt. She is choosing to

keep her tights and to stay warm. It is wet and the problem with that is

that you do not carry those wet tights and that... She's the only at

the jumping in the long Lycra. Second attempt anyway. 1.85. It is a

better attempt, very good. Showing some tenacity at a young age. Always

a good sign. We know she is talented and we know she can win gold medals.

She won a gold medal at the world junior championships earlier in the

summer. That is a good attempt from Morgan Lake. 1.89 as the next

height. It looks as if we're going to go there.

STUDIO: Well done to Morgan Lake and looking good hopefully for the

women's high jump final. We are going to look back to the men's

steeple chase last night which was somewhat controversial.

He was given a yellow card for unsportsmanlike behaviour. But then

the Spanish complain that their athlete finished in fourth place.

And then the first athlete was disqualified and the French appeal

that. So making --... In football for example, I don't

really mind seeing somebody celebrating, enjoying the goal they

have scored and he was clearly enjoying the final home stretch. I

don't think the athletes he is competing against, that they were

bothered either. It says here that bids may be worn

and should not be obscure word in any way. I was disqualified at a

northern league meeting in Carlisle, on a very sunny day. I was

sunbathing in between rounds. On the third round, I forgot to put my vest

back on and I jumped topless! And I did not count. I would have

disqualified you! I was disqualified for not displaying a bib properly.

I don't think this runner brought the sport into disrepute. I don't

think you did anything that was aggressive or offensive. The rules

do say you are supposed to display your number. With electric timing,

they have to record the times in order and maybe that is the biggest

issue. Somebody in European athletics has sat down and thought,

we do not like this. Maybe they thought, we do not like him. He has

got himself into a bit of hot water in previous championships, fighting

with his fellow athletes and pushing over mascots. He is the bad boy of

athletics. It all stems from the fact that Spain complained. They put

in the protest at the beginning and they threw it out to make a

decision. Spain has not been doing that well for medals and they need

medals and they have a circumstance where the boxes they need to take

along the way. Unfortunately for him, he has suffered from that

absolute circumstance. It is a tough one to call. Let's think about other

people you could possibly disqualified for doing something

very similar. In Beijing, disqualified for doing something

very similar. In the 100 metres, a runner was disqualified, because he

was not trying at the end. He did exactly the same thing in the

semifinal as he was crossing the line. All of these things are

circumstances. Talking about Robert Harting, he was throwing a discus at

the time, but he was still at the field of competition. So this is

where it becomes a little bit controversial. The athletes have got

to stand up there... But we don't know what was through his mind. He

had no idea that the official didn't like that. He kept it in his mouth

to Kevin he knows he has to cross the line with his best, but the

question is, would he do anything like that again? I threw my vest off

into the crowd, should I have been disqualified? I am interested to

know what Steve Cram thinks. Do you think he should have been

disqualified? That is why I am a commentator and not an official! It

can be seen as a bit disrespectful. I think he caught controversy, and

that does not help, but it is a little bit harsh in the end. The

officials did not disqualify him in the first place. It was the Spanish

team requesting it, which is annoying. Diniz is a struggling in

terms of his position. He has dropped back. I am not sure he is

struggling but I think the group is split up a little bit, and he will

want to get back up there as soon as possible and move it on. The fronts

to are still pushing it. This is an incredibly fast pace. -- the front

two. This is a world champion here knows how to race. 20 K is your

speciality and a 50 K is a bit like a marathon, it is a different

event, getting the pace right, when you make your move, and you can get

it worldly wrong. Definitely. They are completely different events. In

my -- you can get it really wrong. Definitely. They are completely

different events. Tactics are key. If you get it wrong in the beginning

you might not finish. These guys have set up a very fast pace. These

guys are of an older age, and I will come back to that in a moment, but

we are going to pop back to the stadium, because the second heat of

the steeplechase is about to start. We have come back for that. And I

need, apart from Cooly the Cow, I need to clear up Smurf gate. I am

being told by one of my former BBC colleagues that Schlumpf is the

German word for a Smurf. Well done, Paula, but it was just the wrong

language! There are the five wildfires. Mismas with a record for

Slovenia. -- top-5 qualifiers. As Steve was mentioning, it is a gentle

qualifying, because 22 runners overall, 15 and going through.

Fougberg might be the favourite, not just for this heat, but for the

final it self. Low cloud over the hills surrounding Zurich. The crowds

have been a little bit disappointing at this European Championships. Even

in the evening sessions, there have been huge numbers of empty seats.

Plenty of noise, but apart from that, lots of noise for Schlumpf in

the previous heat, and here they have... Five out of the two heats. I

think it was around the 9.54 time that could still qualify you as a

running as the fastest loser. Do you think the standard was set a

little bit too high? Yes. The European Championships should be

used as a stepping stone, and I don't think we will see this event

and the final much quicker than that time, so it would have perhaps in a

reward, but it would have been a good experience for Rachel Bamford

to come and compete here. Let's had to the field. -- had to the field.

Morgan Lake has removed her tights. The spikes go back on, and 1.89 is

the next height. We have seen the defending champion already go clear

at this height, but looking at a lot of sales at this height down the

board, and this might be the height that is enough to make you through

to the final. Morgan Lake here, 17 years of age. She can handle it.

There is no getting away from the fact that she loves a championship

environment. She has proved that at junior level. It is something that

is a question about whether you can teach it or learn it or whether you

are born with it. It seems to be the latter for Morgan Lake. Not only is

she talented across all seven of the disciplines, but most of all, the

one where she is most comfortable and talented is the high jump, which

is where she goes in her first attempt at 1.89, five cm short of

her lifetime asked. First attempt. Oh, no. Leaned into that. Went early

at it. Failed on the first attempt. She has also knocked the bar off.

Morgan Lake, a learning curve at this level. She will be taking it

all on board, gathering her thoughts, getting ready for her

second attempt. Meanwhile, the last of the heats to move through to the

final in the 3000 metre steeplechase taking place. Five laps remaining.

The German champion is still out in front. Just behind her, a silver

medallist from last year, one of the height quality Russian athletes.

When you look at the steeplechase in major championships, these are

fairly When you look at the steeplechase in

major championships, these recent happenings.

running these steeplechase? It would have been a little bit hard for you

with your dodgy foot. With my dodgy style of trying to jump anything, it

would have been very hard for me. The short answer is no. As you saw

there with Sussman, these girls are still learning a lot about the water

jump, and it is dangerous when there are so many people in front of you,

and accidents like that can easily happen. I prefer to run without any

barriers. It is a different type of running than steeplechase because

they have to keep something in their legs for the last 500-600 metres,

because you cannot jump barriers when you are tired. People around me

are laughing so I am laughing at those people that are laughing, but

that was a belly flop. It was like watching the television series

splash. High-caliber athletes, 9.43, so she has got back in there.

Moldner-Schmidt has been leading so far. She is a very good athlete,

with a personal best of 9.18, but had to miss the entire 2010 season,

so she has battled back really well, had the all clear and is now

running very well here. Fougberg is probably the one to watch in this

field, although she has moved very steadily through this field. She is

now just making sure that she stays in the top-5 and does no more than

absolutely to qualify for that final. Sussman is still fairly

comfortable. Five fastest losers get through as well, so as long as she

does not panic, even with that fall into the water, and you have Lovness

as loud, so -- as well, so they must not panic, they must hang onto the

back and maintain contact. They could still go through. Just

checking the pace of this one compared to the previous heat. The

Swiss corner has been dividing plenty of noise here. It is

Jelizarova, and just ahead of Moldner-Schmidt, a heart-warming

story that she is competing again after that battle with cancer, and

she is settling in in second place. I don't know whether she was caught

a little bit mapping by Jelizarova, making a push ahead and pushing the

pace on, but she was caught in about seventh or eighth place, and she has

moved quickly to put herself back in that group of six, Danekova, and

they think she knows what she needs to do to get in the top five. -- I

think she knows. There has got to be a bit of a tussle for the top five

places. They are starting to wind it up a little bit now. Moldner-Schmidt

in second place behind Jelizarova, and Fougberg, who I think is the

favourite over the two heats, looking for third place at the

moment. Lewis hurts is in there as well. They just have a lap to go. If

you watch the technique of Duke Burger, you can see why she probably

is the favourite -- Fougberg, you can see why she is probably the

favourite coming in. She is 29 years old. She was only running 10.10 a

couple of years ago, and she has improved. She sits in second place

just on the shoulder of Jelizarova. Moldner-Schmidt is there in third

place. Enclosed six. Martin is there. Just losing contact with the

top five. Losing a bit of pace, Theresa Rabbi hanging on there in

third place, and Martin -- Jelizarova is hanging on there in

third place, and Martin is there. She tried to clear a bit of herself

to come through. I am not sure why she feels the need to win this

steeplechase in such a dominant fashion. Only five from this six

here. Martin might just get it on the line. I think she has, in fact.

Kowalska. We're going to check the times. Kowalska will go through

anyway. One of the five automatic qualifiers, Martin. Danekova winning

it ahead of Moldner-Schmidt. There is just behind her will go through

as fastest losers. -- those just behind her will go through as

fastest losers. She is one of three athletes that have gone clear so

far, Kuchina. The door may be opened for Kuchina.

It looks as though she is starting her campaign well to take the

European title. Across to Morgan Lake. We saw her first time fail at

1.89. She will have half an eye on the heptathlon, the leader, Thiam,

of Belgium, cleared 1.97 yesterday. No. Again, dropping that left

shoulder at take-off and that, for me, is the upper body getting a

little bit keen. The coach, behind, with her father. They will be

analysing and trying to communicate. But it is always difficult. You look

up to a sea of people waving their arms and you cannot really hear

them. This is where a young athlete is questions of terms of, what do

you do to coach this, she has had to Max fails and one more and she is

out. 1.89 will be needed to advance to the final on Sunday. Morgan Lake

and a little bit of pressure. She will have a few minutes to gather

herself before her final attempt at this height.

In downtown Zurich, two men are leading this walk. Diniz, the

defending champion, he has had that lead taken away from him a couple of

times. We have already had some disqualifications. Why do you get

disqualified, what is the process? The rules are in place to ensure the

athletes are classed as walking and not running. You see that you can

get three red cards and then you get disqualified. You get a red card for

lifting which is breaking contact so as soon as that back foot leaves the

ground, the front one has to land. And your leg has to land straight

might just the front legs. -- just the front leg. There was a bit of a

bent knee from Toth going around the corner. Quite a tight corner. You

can get... There is a red paddle which is a straight

disqualification? The chief judge will disqualify you, the only way so

that is in the final 100 metres, is if they deemed be running. That

corner is really quite tight which is why they seem to be breaking the

rules, but the judge will look kindly on that. But if they keep

doing it, there will be eight red card. -- a red card. We talked about

experience and keeping going. Diniz is 36 now. Still competing at a very

high standard. It is like the marathon, the longer the event, they

take years and years of training. It takes years to get this good. Garcia

is in his six European Championships which is just incredible. World

champion in 1993I think. It shows that age is a good thing. -- will

champion in 1993, I think. Travelling at that kind of speed

over ten K and 20 K really helps you push in this part of the race. It

will get faster, even now, with about 14 kilometres to go. Diniz is

an all-rounder. Just talk about the long endurance event like this in

terms of taking on liquids, whatever else, in terms of gels and things we

see in the marathon and long cycling races. Digne it is less important is

the 20 kilometres, you just have to try to stay hydrated. This takes

practice, they will do 30, 40 kilometre walks in training and they

will practice what they can take, what they enjoy the taste of what

their stomach can take. If your stomach goes midway through at this

point, it will be trouble. Interestingly, Diniz opting to keep

out of the way of the spray mist, a bit of a surge from him. This race

has a card against his name as well. This is the point, 30 odd kilometres

in, Diniz will at it and see if you can get away from him and go for the

gold. Diniz opening up a slight lead in the 50 kilometre walk. Still a

way to go there. There is Morgan Lake, a lone figure,

walking in Lane 1. She has just had a sprint around in the opposite

direction to wake the legs up. She knows the indications of her next

attempt in this high jump qualification. She has knocked the

bar off twice. 1.89. Her dad in the cap. To his right, Richard Aspen,

her high jump specific coach. Always a team behind a multi-event here,

focusing on the high jump. Her most successful event of the summer so

far, as world junior champion. She is looking to get some support and

you just dig deep. Trust yourself. Works on everything in training, it

is a time to clear the mind. Trust the body and let loose. Come on

Morgan Lake. That was her best attempt but it was not quite good

enough. It was way better than the first two. At this particular

height. It looked as though she was over but she just knocked it off.

That is a shame and she will have to wait and see whether her previous

clearance at 1.85 may be enough. I doubt whether it is. I am looking

down the field of athletes who have gone clear at 1.89. We will come

back to you and maybe clarify her overall position.

It looks as though Morgan Lake may have gone out in the qualification.

In this women's high jump. There is dad looking on, he can barely watch.

That is a real shame for Morgan Lake. As a youngster, these sorts of

things, at the time, they seem so important, for her and her career,

this will be a minor thing which she will get over and she will be a

great athlete in the coming years. Without a shadow of a doubt. You

come here for the experience but if it is a bad experience, it is not a

great one to carry with you. But it is a learning curve and athletics is

about going with the good and the bad days. Morgan Lake will have to

go away back to the drawing board in terms of senior debut at a major

championships. But still a successful summer for the

17-year-old. Tears from Morgan Lake and I don't

think we would have expected that. You just never know how an athlete

feels, it is a lonely place out there. She's coming off a lonely

place and she wants to do well in this competition. She knows this

height is well within her capabilities. It is just getting

that feeling that you are not letting people down. You make

mistakes, it happens. Her dad is there. He will be feeling it for his

daughter. It is just a sad situation and I did not expect her to cry.

Maybe the cold got to her little bit. You saw her shaking herself off

when she landed in that puddle. That last attempt she gave was probably

what she should have started with because she looked just out of sorts

for the first two attempts. You can see the reaction. We were all doing

the same thing in the studio because it looked like she was well over.

But she will learn and she will move on from this. She knows there are

bigger and better things to come. She is 17. Steve Cram said it will

be a minor disappointment for her. In some ways, it is a good sign. I

was just about to say that. The fact she is so emotional, it shows how

much it really means to her. She wanted to do well here, she wanted

to do the best you could possibly do and she feels she has underperformed

but don't worry Morgan, you'll have more successes become. To win the

World Junior Championships at the age of 17, it is a phenomenal

performance. That is what she should be celebrating. Not a minor, a

really minor hiccup here. When I went out at the qualifying round in

my first championships, I didn't care, I was just happy to be there.

She has seen that Jo Pavey and the other athlete have got medals and

she thinks, OK, I want to be part of that success. She just was to have a

good go at it. Laura Weightman got silver in the

Commonwealth Games and hopefully another medal here. She is up

against two Ethiopians who are running for Sweden and Turkey. The

British record-holder is Kelly homes and we caught up with her. She was

reflecting on her early years. When I was 14 years old, my dreams

came to fruition. One was to be the Olympic champion. I watched

Sebastian Coe win the 1500 metres. The fact it was a British athlete

who had won an Olympic gold medal in an event I was running in as a young

girl. I got goose bumps and I knew at that moment I wanted to become an

Olympic champion. I remember going back to school from the summer

holidays and telling people I was going to be Olympic champion and

they said, we know you are. It was really weird. My second was to be in

the British army as a physical training instructor. I joined the

army when I was nearly 18 years old but I did not become a physical

training instructor, I became a heavy goods driver, because I could

not get in. I still hold the license, I am just young enough! I

actually ended my junior international career to join the

British army, that year, when I was 17. I made the decision I was going

to go into the army. You had given up on your dream? Not really but I

think that was the moment in time, I was 17, nearly 18 and it was a job,

something I could do. I had given up for that first year, and then

because I was the fastest on our basic fitness test, everyone was

going, you are quite a good runner. I then got selected for the army

championships and I was quite happy to do them. If I compare it to what

I now know about university, that is all I used to do, have fun.

1992, watching the Olympic Games, I remember watching Lisa York. She was

in the 3000 metres. Somebody I used to compete against when I was young

and occasionally I beat her. And there she was. That was the moment

when I reconnected with the dream I had when I was 14. I got the goose

bumps again and I could not believe she was there and I thought, that is

what I want to do. In those early days, as a senior, I

was not afraid because I did not really know anyone. I did not know

anyone on that circuit. I had heard of people and I saw them win. The

naivete was good at that stage. That was my first gold medal and there

remember it very well. It was surreal to be in these big stadiums

winning medals but I was just going back to normality. It was very

strange but also really good grounding to keep my feet on the

ground. I used my leave from the Armed Forces to go away and compete

and then come back, and if I had guard duties I would change them

around. That was my real strength in the first two or three years of my

career, the fact that most of my training was as a soldier. A double

Olympic champion. Paula Radcliffe has joined us. Quite an amazing

career, and you see that right through the early years, what she

achieved, something that might not so easily have happened. Exactly. I

did not see all of the video, I did not see whether or not she mentioned

it, but she was a championship after -- she was in championships after

seeing a lease. That got her back into running, and to see what she

could do, and in the same way that Jo Pavey and in the same way that Jo

Pavey embodies perseverance, she stepped in there through so many

injuries. She has been putting in the miles again. She has been

adapting to life on the bike. It was a bit tricky to start off with, but

she is loving it. We all know what she is like, she loves the

competition, and all of the great stuff she does, inspiring young

people, and there is still that burning desire to compete, and she

is doing quite well. Men's 1,500 metres coming up. The bad boy of

European Athletics. What is your view on him being banned? I think he

needed to be sanctioned in some way. When you see it happen because

another team has protested just because they want a medal, does not

sit right or feel right, but just to give him a yellow card, he might

think he will do it again, but he won't do it again now. Maybe he

should have just been fined. It did not affect the result of the race

but it was very disrespectful for the other athletes. Is he a

contender in this event? I think so. We will see how it goes today, how

much it has taken out of him. Charlie Grice in this one. It is all

yours, Steve. Way too many men in there. 16 in two

heats, and they could have done with three heats. Police that will be a

danger here. -- Holusa. There is the men that many people think will be

the favourite. Two very good Belgian athletes. O Lionaird, John Travers

as well. He is next to the bad boy, Mekhissi-Benabbad. Maybe welling up

a little bit there. He probably has huge regrets about but he did. I am

not sure it was spontaneous. He said it was. He seems to make spontaneous

decisions in his career that often and him and a bit of trouble. Just

as we look at Charlie, people don't know that there was an incident as

well where Mekhissi-Benabbad had a fight with one of his team-mates,

well where Mekhissi-Benabbad had a fight with one a real fight. The

striker had a fight with one of his team-mates, a real fight. -- he had

a fight with one of his team-mates, a real fight. Charlie Grice is going

to have to be on his toes. It is not going to be easy. 16 men in the

heat. In a race which potentially could be quite slow, this is too

many, isn't it? There could have easily been three heats, it could

have easily been organised in that manner. 16 of these men, I predict

they will finish with their running strips on, there will not be any

disrobing today. I thought Mekhissi-Benabbad was foolish last

night. But he was an easy run for him. He did react foolishly. When I

saw the yellow card, I thought that was fair enough, and it was a

warning, but to take away a hard earned European title, a title he

has worked for, there must have been better ways of doing it. He broke

several rules last night, but other people have broken worse rules than

that before and gone unsanctioned. It was silly what he did. I am not

sure anyone distinguish themselves by taking has medal away. Many of

the athletes here will be watching him but also they will be pleased to

see stretch strict Spain to stretch out after that decent lap. -- also

they will be pleased to see Spain stretch out after that decent lap.

Ingebrigsten, boxed in the inside. It is OK, two laps to go, start to

think about moving out a little bit. It is OK, two laps to go, start to

think about moving Decent pace. It is easier when they are moving

quicker. The nerves have gone. Charlie Grice has got a lot around,

he is trapped on the inside. He is a promising young athlete. You can see

the acceleration is beginning to happen as they go down the back

straight, with 600 metres to go. Charlie Grice has got a lot to do.

He just does not need to panic. This is still good pace and there is

plenty of space for Charlie. Ingebrigsten wants to control this.

The other Belgian athlete is charging Grice. They are coming down

the home stretch. Charlie Grice does not need to lose his position. The

first four to go through and then the first four fastest losers. You

cannot rely on it. Charlie Grice moves into fourth place. Overall, it

is going well. Holusa will finish quickly. Ingebrigsten looks for a

bit of room. Charlie has not got to panic, just keep his elbows sharp.

He is in a good spot here. Charlie Grice running brilliantly. Holusa in

the fourth spot. Charlie looks behind and see their little bit of

danger. Has got to be strong here. He moves away. Mekhissi-Benabbad --

Mekhissi-Benabbad is one of the qualifiers. He came from nowhere.

But Charlie, well done, excellent, did not panic when people were

around him with 600 to go. It is going to open up. Yes, they are all

charging, no more than this men here. He is probably trying to

forget about yesterday. Mekhissi-Benabbad, their emotional.

He has made it to the final. It must have been difficult for him last

night, and indeed this morning, whether or not to come and run, but

he has made it through in third place. Not such an easy time, not

superfast. Well done, Charlie Grice, he did great. He ran

extremely well, and I think Mekhissi-Benabbad was there to prove

something. He was running in a very high emotional place. Ingebrigsten,

the champion, running powerfully, and just going past him, but then he

is suddenly appears on the outside, the men who won the steeplechase and

had his medal taken away, but he looks comparable in third place,

just behind Charlie Grice, Moukrime, powerful and strong, looking good.

The champion, Ingebrigsten, coming on the outside there, Grice, really

holding on, and at the moment, you cannot see the disqualified

steeplechase champion, he has, on the wide outside on a strange sort

of race, just like last night, we still cannot see him, he is on the

outside, I am sure, and Charlie Grice, comfortable, strong,

finishing well, and for the first time, there goes Mekhissi-Benabbad,

and Charlie Grice is down there to explain a good run to children's.

Thanks a lot. It was a strong run and an accomplished when from you.

The -- to fill Jones. I treated it as a final, and they came through. A

bit of a bump. He managed to keep your composure. I knew it was going

to be a scrap so why try to stay on my feet. I'm just glad I pulled

through. How did you feel coming into this morning? I felt good. I am

feeling in really good strength -- shape after my training. What do you

hope to get out of it now that you have put yourself in there? I just

want to run my best. It is all about tactics and there are a lot of us

around a similar level, so I got eight day to recover now to be ready

for the final. All the best. Cheers. Well done. His coach will be

delighted with that. It is all about getting your tactics right, and he

did that perfectly. Ingebrigsten, Mekhissi-Benabbad and Moukrime. That

was the first heat and the second one is to come. A little further

down, this is the point, if you cannot sprint, even if you run the

fastest times, you can be in trouble. Let's just tidy up the

women's steeplechase qualifiers. We saw events earlier on. Schlumpf is

the German word for Smurf. She is through. Fougberg looked good.

Kowalska and Cassondra also making it good -- through as fast as

losers. And here is confirmation of the athletes who have qualified for

the high jump final. And the Green, a final attempt of a 1.89. -- Emma

Green. No Morgan, unfortunately. The 1.85 was not enough. She cleared on

her second attempt. In retrospect, Mekhissi-Benabbad has been the

qualified -- disqualified. They say that on clothing a big -- they say

something thereabouts disrobing. He qualified, bizarrely. He almost

disrespected that field as well, but probably was recovering from last

night. He has not had that long to recover and you have had to deal

with all of the turmoil of the disqualification. He warmed up

somewhere separately this morning and came very late to declare for

this heat and just sat at the back of the field and left his running

very late. Charlie Grice was running very impressively and looking good

going into that final, but Mekhissi-Benabbad, he came through

very fast and was in doubt until about the last five metres. Some

interesting shots at the end there with Mekhissi-Benabbad, he was there

with the men that he fought. He looked distressed. He almost looked

like he was about to cry even on the starting line. On reflection, he

clearly is regretting his action last night. He feels it was very

harsh. We all have different opinions on it, but he is clearly

very emotional. We saw his reaction at the end of the race as well. Now

we are going to go back to Steve Cram for an update on the men's 50 K

walk. Sad news for the world champion of Ireland's, you have had

to withdrawal. He has not been disqualified. Tom Bosworth, that is

really sad for Robert. He has obviously been struggling. I am not

sure what it was, I heard he had to stop quickly to stretch.

It might have been something up with his hip or his hamstring.

That is a shame for him, Diniz is still leading. Attempting to defend

his title. He looked really good the last time we saw him. This is Toth

who is in third place. He is walking really well.

Diniz is certainly going some speed. It will be an incredible time if he

keeps this up. This is how he races and he looks as though he will

cruise to victory. Good crowds downtown. It has dried out a lot. It

is bringing people out to watch and there is the leader. Heading in the

opposite direction and it is a good lead he has.

We all got a bit seasick with the way that camera went across and back

again! Second heat of the men's 1500 metres coming up. Chris O'Hare in

this one. It would have taken great encouragement from what Charlie

Grice did. With 16 athletes in each of these

heats, it will be tough. He needs to go out and use the advantage of it

being the second heat to try to make sure he goes a little bit faster. To

go under the 3.39 times they are sitting on. Watch out for Tesfaye,

the young German athlete, in here as well. Chris is moving on with each

race this season and I think you will be encouraged from the

Commonwealth Games. He did everything right and he will be

looking to take another step forward. Going back to what Brendan

mentioning commentary about there being too many athletes. We are not

exactly pushed for time this morning, why not have three races

instead of two? I do not know. I think, when it is

around 15 or 16 athletes, sometimes they ask the athletes what they want

and sometimes it is just a decision made by the organisers. Andrew, some

good names in this one to follow on from your Smurf conversation.

There is Hochstrasser about to get introduced to the crowd.

All of these athletes know what they have to do. Tesfaye of Germany, he

was the quickest in the last lap in the last race.

Ozbilen, formerly of Kenya. Chris O'Hare, we will certainly see from

him, nobody wears the effort in his face as clearly as he does. He gives

absolutely everything and this is tight qualifying. Only format to go

through automatically and at first he was quick. -- only four to go

through automatically. The first heat was quick.

They have set off at a decent pace. They know the pace of the first heat

and they know it has to be reasonably quick.

Filip Ingebrigsten is in there, younger brother of Henrik

Ingebrigtsen. He is a man on a mission, with a point to prove.

Ozbilen, a class at it, and in front at the moment. The first 300 metres

rand really quickly by Ozbilen. We have seen him do that before. We

have seen him lead quickly. I wonder if he will do that today. Ten of

these men have already run 3.39 or better this year so they have the

chances. There is Chris O'Hare running sensibly. The pace is fast

so he can just relax there. As I say that, they all start bumbling into

one in each other. Germany caused a bit of a problem but Chris O'Hare

was very aware of that. Chris O'Hare sitting alongside the Latvian

runner. Just ahead of Benitz, the promising young German. Ozbilen out

in front. Carvalho and Tesfaye in there. Robinson as well. Chris

O'Hare sitting at the back. Look out for the 800-metre time. Just inside

that at the moment, they are moving along with Italy's pace. -- moving

along with a decent pace. There is now a new leader and this

is a strong drive and it will have to stay like this. His pace looks

good. It could be well under 3.39 at this pace at the moment. A couple of

runners lagging behind the field. There will be no chance of them

catching this. Chris O'Hare now on the outside of Robinson from

Ireland. Coming up to the bell, he is the fourth or fifth place. He is

in a good position. Bustos is gone and El Kabbouri of Italy fell as

well. They have been moving at a good pace. Chris O'Hare likes to hit

the front with some distance to go. Getting himself away from any

trouble. The other Spaniard, Olmedo making a move as well. The front for

looking strong at the moment. -- the front four. Chris O'Hare, still some

work to be done. Here he is gritting his teeth. He has opened up a bit of

a gap, you need to calm down a little bit. This is when you need to

look around and see that you have a bit of room to spare. Don't waste

too much energy. Robinson comes through for Ireland. Ozbilen not

automatically through but again, it was quick. So I think you might go

through but Chris O'Hare, touch and go for Ozbilen, but Chris O'Hare, a

good, strong run. Brendan, that was a strong run and

he reread did blast it down the final 100. I think Chris thought

that was the final! But he ran really well.

There goes Chris O'Hare getting ready to run this one like a final

and he is attacking it now. Running powerfully on the back straight.

Olmedo making his way through, into second place. Chris O'Hare realises

there is a bunch of them on his shoulder and he wants to be in the

first four. He glances over his shoulder and sees there are a feud

to many for comfort and the accelerator brilliantly into the

finishing straight. He has got it won but he decides he is going to

keep going. Robinson of Ireland running strongly and splitting the

two Germans. They really good run by Chris O'Hare and Robinson qualified

as well. Determination, the man, as you said, with his determination on

his face and look at him, toughing it out and working hard. Olmedo

comes to be second. That was an impressive run overall. He worked so

hard. He ran in Moscow last year, he ran out of legs in the final and it

was a great effort to make the final. Just a final look around

their, knowing he can ease down a little bit but look, you did not

ease very much. I don't think Ozbilen will qualify with that time.

Robinson, the Irish athlete, finishing strongly and he knows he

has made it as well with Benitz and Tesfaye. A very good run from Chris

O'Hare. That makes good viewing. I was happy

with that. I try to stay out of too much trouble in the first couple of

laps. But it kept finding me. If you trips and falls. -- a few trips and

falls. I am happy with it. 300 to go and I

thought, should I sit or press and get to the front? My inpatients

meant that I pressed to get to the front. Not sure my coach will be

happy without! I put my foot to the floor with 150 to go and I expected

them to be coming right on my shoulder at that point. 50 to go, I

thought, I don't want to say he's the than I thought, it sounds a bit

egotistical! But now I have a day in between and I can get some easy

running done and make sure I am ready. Charlie said you run that

round like a final. Now you are in the final, you believe anything is

possible? Sure. If you go into a heat at this level, so many guys run

34, 35, 36. If you go into a race like that, just to run it as easy as

possible, you will be sitting and watching it on Sunday. I got an

extra little boost. I think Charlie and myself have got a great shot. At

least a bronze and silver. Exciting times ahead.

He is still based over in the states after his college days.

These are the standings of the heptathlon we saw yesterday. The

overnight leader, Thiam, 19-year-old Belgium with a huge high jump. Not

having a great second day. He will be entering day two in the lead.

This is the long jump, round two. Schafer of Germany.

She looks as though she is right up there in terms of what she is

capable of. Accumulating points. We just the javelin throw and the 800

metres to come. Schafer in second place overnight, behind Thiam. The

German has improved immensely over 2014. In every event, including this

one by the looks of things. This is a new personal best of 6.3. As we

move across to an athlete who does have a very strong second day,

Nadine Broersen. In third place overnight. If the stats are anything

to go by, that was a big jump, saw the red flag... Way over the board.

Her first attempt of 6.16 centimetres will be her best so far.

On paper at least, she is the athlete that should take gold.

Another athlete with a strong second day, Schwarzkopf of Germany. She

went from seventh to silver, behind Jessica Ennis-Hill at the Olympics.

May be struggling a little bit. Just shows, you cannot just do it on

paper, it is how you feel, with slightly tired legs. Schwarzkopf,

her best is 6.34, and it looks as though she is just shy of that. She

could take a medal here. A slight improvement for the German. The

overall leader coming into this event of the seven, Thiam of

Belgium. Can she long jump? Goodspeed. Legs came down early and

the red flag was raised. That was an encouragement on the plasticine for

the 19-year-old, 6.23 at her very best, 6.18 in the first round. So,

then, field event rib acro qualification, and this is an

athlete who should do it with ease. -- the discus. The discus flew. On

May four athletes over 65 metres. She is four metres ahead of the best

in Europe and is probably now the favourite to take the gold in the

final tomorrow evening. She goes through to that final. She looks a

favourite here at the European Championships.

My goodness me. Andy Turner is the European champion! He will not be

able to take that smile off his quite long time. He is a fighter, he

is a soldier. He should be proud of what he has achieved. I certainly

am. Andy Turner is in the house, and a welcome indeed. The Memphis

championships for you, having announced your retirement. --

momentous championships. Yes. It has been an absolute Rohler coaster of a

career. I wanted to go out on my own terms. I am finally in one piece. It

is a decision I have not taken lightly. It has been playing on my

mind for a wild now. I wanted to go out on my own terms and I have done.

It sits well with me to be finishing at the end of this year. In terms of

going through the qualifications, semifinals, knowing it was your last

time, what were your emotions like, because you have always worn your

heart on your sleeve. It felt like it was another championships. I had

the same and nerves on the starting line, albeit slightly different

nerves, it was more of a case of, I want to do this for myself and I

want to go out on a high for myself as opposed to representing my

country and giving somebody -- everyone else something to cheer

about. I just wanted to run the best race I could. I don't think I did.

Watching this race back, it is time to call it a day! You should say

that before: Does. It is a top school in here. You were so

emotional. I found personally a sense of relief went you had told

everybody that Schrage once you had told everybody you were retiring. --

once you had told everybody that you are retiring. There is a belief that

washes over you. I am with you on that one. I did feel nervous but I

knew it was my last one. You kind of relax, it is a relaxed nervous

tension that you have. The kind of contradicts itself but it is true.

Although I was nervous, I wasn't ready for it, and in you are ready

for it and you know it is coming, you appreciate it that much more,

and that is what I had to do, just cross that line, at least make the

line, and just as soon as I crossed the line, I was slightly

disappointed, but at the same time I was relieved, it was over and a big

weight off my shoulders. The important thing for you is the fact

that you finished your raised that way, because all of the athletes,

you always so you could do that much better if you could just perform a

little better, but it is on your terms, and you are saying, OK, and

none of us are judging you on that performance, we will revamp or the

Commonwealth Games and all the other things that you have achieved --

remember the Commonwealth Games and all of the things that you have

achieved. You will always think you could do better, but you will always

have all this great victories. 2010 in particular. -- those great

victories. The men on the left is to everybody expected to take the

medal. You capitalized. He took that victory. I was jumping up and down

thinking, hold it down! It was brilliant to see you do that. The

finalist, the different the -- the final was completely different. In

the final, I thought, please don't do that again, and every member

getting to the seven turtle and thinking, you know that thing, you

the -- seventh hurdle and thinking, you know that thing, you smell

blood, and they went for it with everything I had a mad I remember to

this day thinking, don't make a mess of this, keep it clean, and I turned

clean their ears and there is no better feeling than knowing you are

in the lead. -- cleared the barriers. You crossed the line with

your arms in the air, there is no better emotion than that. Regardless

of what ideal in my life, I can take that memory of crossing the line of

the gold medallist and I can cherish it. We had a debate earlier on about

what point in the hurdle rate do you push it, or do you focus on

technique when you know that you can smell the lines there, and the

danger is getting into the racing mode, and that is where mistakes

happen. It is controlled aggression and that is what you have to focus

on. The first half of the race with a complete blur, but as soon as I

knew was a -- as soon as they the head, I need to stop pushing. I did

not to lose my lead and it is controlled aggression. I finished

this last hurdles cleanly, and it was a great feeling to cross the

line with my arms aloft. We're talking about the last night. When

you went into a championship final, you said you made sure you did not

have a hurdle. The final in Delhi was an example of that. I knew going

into. I was the favourite, and I did not get the best start, but by

around here, I'm UI was winning the race, so it is a case of just

maintenance -- I knew I was winning the race, so it is a case of just

maintenance and clearing the barriers. I, have run faster but I

did not need to push it. I -- I did not have to run faster, I did not

need to push it. Ten clean derri?res, taking the gold -- ten

clean derri?res, taking the gold, it was a relief.

Have you got any races left after the sun? Should you rent -- Heidi

that any races left after this one? I feel ready for it. I never thought

in a million years I would feel ready for it. I can honestly say

that I am ready to do new things. I have had such a good career, I have

got so many memories, ideas want to go out running like a did last night

again. I don't want that to continuously happen. I don't want it

to be a slippery slope and being that the guy that everyone thinks

should have called it a day earlier on. I am happy with where I am

finishing in my career. If Iran's fast, it is a bonus. -- if I run

fast, it is a bonus. Chris Tomlinson is going to hate me for saying

this. I agree with him. When I was 16, I jumped 7.23 and I beat him,

and he did not shake my hand. He did not and he knows he did not! Well,

Greg knows what it is like when you do something that Chris doesn't

like, doesn't he? Let's not go there! I'm not saying I'm going to

be good at long jump, I might not even job as well as they did then,

but I love the event and I want to have another go at it. Andy, you are

fit and healthy, you spent the last three years with your Achilles

giving your best, and the long jump is not going -- with your Achilles

giving you problems, and a long jump is not going to be good for you. The

doctors will be pulling their hair out! At least they have by doctors

on tap! That is what happens when you retire. It is a shock to the

system. You have not got all that back up. It is expensive as well!

When you are funded, you get the luxuries of the financial side of

it, the medical side of it. The medical side for me has always been

the most important part. This year, obviously, I am being cut from

funding, but I'm UI would not get funding and it is fine. -- I knew I

would not get funding and it is fine. It is not a case of all day

every day, it is just every so often, and not having that, having

my wife get her elbow in and to get in my back, that is what I have been

doing, and it has been difficult. I cannot expect to be funded. It is

understandable. You have to do what you have to do. 2010, two gold

medals. Was 2011 perhaps your best race, your best performance? No, I

do not think so. The 2011 race, mixture of emotions. I crossed the

line in fourth place. You are never happy with the race you run. You

always think you can do better. I crossed the line in fourth. I looked

at that and felt, I came forth in the world and they have to be happy

with that. These things happen in races every day. It is very

unfortunate. I gained from that. It was a mixer of emotions. -- mixture

of emotions that I am chuffed to bits that my children have a big

medal to show at the school show and tell. 2010, the gold medal in

Barcelona, that was my favourite race. And more from EUL is a bit

later, but we will catch up with Steve Cram. -- and more from you a

little bit later. History being made here, because this men here is

performing brilliantly well. He is the defending champion and he is

well inside world record pace. He is looking at his watch and everybody

knows. Tombaugh thread is getting excited. He is going to smash it at

this rate. This is incredible. This is what he does. Nobody can catch up

with him. It is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. This is going

to be big time. -- big-time. The two Russians here try to get up to him

earlier on. They are all walking well, walking fast. They're going

quickly. Three or four minutes behind but they are all heading for

personal bests in the middle positions. This is just brilliant

for the event. It is great to see the two European leaders really

ahead of the Russians, who often dominates over world races and

European races. It is brilliant. The world record is three hours, 34

minutes and 14 seconds, and he has already got the flag and is already

celebrating. He is got to be careful. He does not have any

warnings against him. The conditions have been really good. It is a bit

breezy. You were down there the other day. It must be reasonably

protected. I did not feel much win-win I was racing. He does not

care -- I do not feel that much wind when I was racing. He doesn't care,

he is loving it and enjoying it, and what a career he has had. He won the

European Championships first in 2006 on again in Barcelona in 2010. At

the age of 36, he is on fine form. Just look at the way he is storming

to the title. I love the fact he is celebrating early, but let's hope he

does not take his shirt off like Mekhissi.

Look how much he is enjoying this. I don't know how he can be enjoying it

at 49 K but he must be! He has been training all year for this. This is

obviously the target. Perfect conditions, a good course and a

great athlete. Technique looks solid. He is just passing the

arthouse area. The cathedral. It dominates the skyline in downtown

Zurich. He is heading towards the lake. Go for the world record,

surely! He wants a Moroccan flag as well. He is that far under it, he

can do it, incredible! Surely he will want to go as fast as he could,

look at this! What a performance. Fantastic, just short of two minutes

under the time. This is brilliant. He needs to find the finish line. He

is the gold-medallist, the European champion and now the world record

holder in the 50 kilometres walk. Look how much that means the him.

William performance from Diniz, completely destroyed the field,

going quicker and quicker as the race went on. -- brilliant

performance from Diniz. There are shortage distances and

local race and Diniz is a legend in this event. He is a father of two

and a bit of a wine expert as well. I expect there will be a couple of

glasses quaffed tonight in celebration. He is congratulated by

the world champion. It was not his day-to-day but he must be saying,

what a performance. He has absolutely torn apart the world

record. The walking fraternity, it is a tight-knit group. As you know

only too well, Tom. The man in second place, having a great race,

Toth from the Czech Republic. Everyone is re-friendly and

supportive. -- everyone is really friendly and supportive. This man

has just got better and better. He is one to watch in Beijing next year

as well as Rio. This is the man in silver medal position and he is

clear so no worries for him, he just needs to concentrate over these last

few hundred metres. He himself, if he keeps going, will go to the world

top ten list in 50, to walks. Conditions are good, the course was

good you said. Tramlines to negotiate. They are quite easy to

miss. The turn looks slightly easier, slightly wider in the 20

kilometres which made it quite tough. Clearly that was necessary

because of the distance these guys are doing. They could not be turning

on such a tight turn. He is already starting to begin his celebrations,

being cheered on by supporters at the side and a little luck and a

kiss to the camera. He knows, he has had a great race and he must know he

is on for a fast time as well. And a national record it would be. His

technique looks great as well. Completely solid all the way. He is

a quality Walker and these guys, they aim for this race, they don't

get to do many 50 kilometres fun. It goes on and it hurts but these guys

are past it today. He has not stopped to find a national flag, he

is just concentrating on the last few hundred metres. Toth of the

Slovak Republic will be taking the silver medal. Now he can start to

celebrate. Just watch the clock. He may well end up with a time that

will in fact put him in the world's top ten.

The silver medal goes to Toth of the Slovak Republic in three hours, 36

and 33, they all thereabouts. The gold-medallist is Diniz, a new world

record in the 50 kilometres walk. Silver goes to Toth and the minor

places we will tidy up later. Schafer, six metres 30 in the long

jump. Watch out for Nana Djimou of France,

in fourth place at the moment but very strong in the javelin and can

run a fairly decent 800 metres. STUDIO: What a race. Those French

have to be careful, was that a bona fides effort Colin? He picked up the

flag and continued his journey, what is the difference? He set a new

world record. There is only one way to celebrate. It is fantastic. It is

a long wait, 50 kilometres. You get an idea of how quickly they are

going. It is amazing. Disappointment for Robert Heffernan. But I think he

will struggle to live with that pace.

I remember speaking to him last year when he won the world title and he

was so excited about coming in and doing that and perhaps adding this

title to his world title. He will have watched this and thinking, that

was pretty respectful a performance. As an athlete, he is very

respectful. But finally, Sir gold medal for France. Trivia question

for you, when was the last time a world record was set in a European

Championships? 1986. Fatima Whitbread. That is a good one

but it wasn't. It was in the relay by the French. The four x 100 metres

in 1990. A quick word on the heptathlon. It is looking good. I am

still expecting Russell love to come through. And Nana Djimou is capable

of throwing 67 metres in the javelin. That event is crucial. That

will set you up for the 800. They will all know what they have to do

by then. Thiam, I get so frustrated, because she could end up out of

those medals does because she has such a poor 800 metres. Although she

is very talented, she needs to work on that event. Let's have a look

forward to what is coming up in terms of Olympic sport.

Andy Turner is still with us and you talked about being comfortable with

retiring and part of a package is knowing what you are going to do

next. For the last two years, I have been personal training as well and

that has been going really well. I run a business called antics which

is an intense circuit training class but it is fun and it is dancing and

different. We do two classes a week and it is massive. We are already in

talks with a large chain of gymnasiums to get it out to more

sport gyms. I am going to focus on that, I would love to do more TV

stuff and radio star. For the time being, I am going to go and spend

some time with my family and see what happens. We have a tweet,

asking what was your favourite race or experience? It was not in the

hurdles for a start! LAUGHTER We cannot wait to hear! Villa my

favourite event is the 200-metre hurdles. I would drop the 110 races

in a heartbeat. You ran it Colin in about 22.6. It is on a straight in

Manchester and it is ten hurdles and I love it. It encompasses everything

I like, I like 200 metres and the hurdles. Put those two things

together and you would never see me running the 110 again. Could you

have gone to more hurdles? I have ran it in the relay. It is something

I wanted to do but I did it when I was 16 and I fell over at the last

hurdle because I was so tired! LAUGHTER

It is something I maybe should have tried. I love the 110 s, I always

feel like I have unfinished business in them. I did not want to leave

that event without having accomplished something that I felt I

could do. I probably should have given it a try. Do you feel you have

got the most out of yourself over the 110s? I am not going to say I

was going to run 12.9, 13 seconds. I don't think I am the most talented

athlete, I am a guy who just chipped away as much as possible and got the

most out of myself when I could. I think my best years will have been

the years when my Achilles was really bugging me. I would wake up

and not be able to walk. I would not know if I could even train. It was

really hard and disappointing because I know I was in good shape.

The Achilles was always holding me back. I think I was robbed of

running a personal best. I am going to take my gold medals over running

faster any day of the week. I don't have any regrets. Andy, thank you

for joining us. Your family will be very proud of you. You will be

looking forward to this evening. We mentioned the 200 and 400 without

the hurdles and really a chance for Britain to get medals. The men and

the women's, they are looking so good and strong. Christine. You

cannot write Chris Dean off at the championships and she looked good

enough to win. -- Christine. Thank you very much. Five -- we have the

men's 200-metre final. Adam Gemili. The women's 5,000-metre final. And

maybe a clean sweep in the 400 metres.

If they did not know who he was, goodness me, they do now. Look how

much that means to him. He comes of age, the 20-year-old.

MUSIC: "Black Skinhead" by Kanye West