Day 2, Part 2 Athletics: European Indoor Championships

European Indoor Championships. When you left us, we were at a dramatic

stage in the women's pole vault competition, waiting for Holly

Bleasdale to take her attempt for a gold medal at 4.72m.

see the bar being reduced in height now. They are involved in a jump-

off. 4.72m the last height they both failed three times will now be

dropped down to 4.67m, I think. It really is nailbiting stuff, this.

Action everywhere. It's a great afternoon to have Jenny Meadows

back. She is the defending champion now after the disqualification of

the athlete who crossed the line ahead of her two years ago. It's

great to see her back. One race before coming to these

Championships. A little rusty in the heats yesterday. We will see

Jenny taking this race out here this afternoon. She has to finish

in the top three. She is more than capable of getting through here.

Arzamasova will be a danger. Has only lost once this year.

Lyakhovaya of the Ukraine. Was a bit of a surprise yesterday.

the front. Her coach, Trevor, her husband, had said when they come

here the three races will help her. She wasn't ready for a one-off fast

race. She will take this out and do what she does when she is at her

fittest. This is what she's comfortable doing. She likes to

control the race. This is the right tactic. She's great at setting the

right pace. She knows what shape she is in. Never goes too fast.

That is a reasonable first 200m. That is a pretty fast first 200m.

One thing that Jenny can use this Championships for, she can use the

races as training to bring her on. She's comfortable here. She is

running how she likes to run. She is looking smooth so far. Slowing

from that 28.50 200m. Has Jenny got the shape to maintain this? You can

see how they are strung out. Look at Buchel trying to attack. Jenny

is still going well. Jenny going very well. Buchel wanted to get

past before the bend. Looking back to Galligan, can she get past the

athlete in front of her? Still good pace being set by Jenny Meadows. It

is slowing a bit. We would expect that. Look how stretched out they

are. The form doesn't change. She will still need to be strong. There

is still danger here. Buchel is still there, Arzamasova is still

there and Lyakhovaya is close enough to strike. This is great

running from Jenny! Lasting it out. Into the final. Well-controlled.

Brilliant run. 2:01.04. She is back and is in good shape. Not the shape

she would completely like to be in. That was dominant. The others will

think this is the lady to beat. The British team captain has run

superbly well. She is casting an eye to watch Holly Bleasdale. This

is a gold medal chance for Great Britain. 4.67m the bar is set at.

She's cleared it already in the competition. It is all-or-nothing

now. She's got it! It's gold for Great Britain! Holly Bleasdale is

the champion. Jenny Meadows knows exactly what's happened there.

Jenny Meadows raises her arms. Holly Bleasdale is the European

Indoor Champion. What about that! Lovely moment. A great moment. We

will come back to Jenny shortly. She's obviously celebrating as well.

She is celebrating Holly's brilliant gold medal there. All of

a sudden, there's some Union Jacks appeared in the crowd! There always

was a few! People were keeping them well hidden. The women's team

captain, or the Great Britain team captain, says congratulations to

Britain's first medal of these Championships. It's gold in the

women's pole vault. Absolutely brilliant in the end. Took a long

time coming. But as soon as Anna Rogowska failed that height of

4.67m, Holly Bleasdale had the opportunity and she took it

superbly. There's all the medallists. Bleasdale, Rogowska and

Holly just celebrating over there. You were able to share the moment.

What a great couple of minutes for Great Britain? It was brilliant.

Holly is my roommate. She came here for the gold. I was the first one

to say congratulations to her. I was aware in the call-up that she

was on a jump-off. I thought, "I wonder how she is handling this."

Brilliant. You had a couple of earlier disappointments. Holly's

pulled through. That was you of old! You are not in 100% shape yet?

I'm not. Far from it! The last two weeks since Birmingham I have been

running a lot better in training. Yesterday in the heats, I don't

like heats, I don't feel myself when I cut my rhythm short. I have

also reverted back to some old spikes! I have some amazing spikes.

Maybe they are only good when I'm able to run on my toes. I'm not

quite in that shape yet. I have put on my dusty ones that I do all my

training in, but they have stood me in good stead there. They have done

the trick so far today. Now, of course, you are in the final. You

have changed your tactics. It worked perfectly for you. Can we

expect something similar? waiting for this next semifinal.

Maybe I can get an indication of what shape the other girls are in.

This is the loaded semi. The times in my semi, I didn't expect us to

run that quick. Enjoy the race and enjoy making the final! Thanks.

45 Minutes ago it was looking glum for the British team and it's all

turned around. Boy, are we relieved it is Holly. She has promised so

much and now she has delivered. Great seeing her with the British

flag, the Union Jack and her winning jump, although it was

probably not as high as she would have liked, when the pressure was

on she was able to deliver 4.67m. Today was about winning. It wasn't

about big heights, although she would have liked to have done it.

This was in a jump-off at 4.67m. Yes, she is a confident jumper at

this level. You have to add in this fatigue. These women have been

jumping a long time. When you are talking about the countback, they

will have to continuously keep jumping. Holly has proved her steel.

She came here for one thing. She knew she had the capabilities of

jumping high. Now she has to compete and she's fit and healthy

and boy she can produce a good performance! Her first major gold

medal. She has a World Indoor bronze. But it is a different thing

to get the big G? It is. It is the confidence you get. "I am one of

these girls that can perform when it counts." She has proved that.

She has proved it to herself. Against Rogowska, the defending

champion, she is a name, someone that Holly would have looked at, so

it was good to get one over on her as well? Yes, shez girls have been

competing -- these girls have been competing with each other. Always

to take a scalp, a big name, it is a great achievement. We can see now

Rogowska's attempt at 4.67m. This was the jump-off. They failed at

4.72m. They came back to 4.67m. She wasn't ever close to that. Then it

was down to Holly Bleasdale. It was an amazing moment. You train for

those moments. You think, "This is for gold!" When she hit the mat,

she knew instantly that gold medal could have gone! She knew Holly was

close to 4.72m. That is wonderful reading for us all. Holly Bleasdale

with that gold medal. We saw Jenny Meadows embracing Holly Bleasdale

and said she was going to watch this one with interest. A loaded

second semifinal. Look out for Lupu in lane four.

Hinriksdottir went a bit too quick yesterday, so she should learn a

lesson from that. Did she learn her lesson? 30.14 through the first

200m. Maybe gone out a bit steadier. Still more comfortable leading at

the front of the race. I'm excited about Everard here. Was very much

in control yesterday. Third place, behind Kotulskaia. She has eased

back a little bit. Not startlingly quick. Look for the pace to pick up

here. Lupu in the blue. Hinriksdottir is fading away. Look

for the time as well. They hit the bell and it is Kotulskaia out in

front. Everard is running well. Lupu is coming round the outside.

Still Kotulskaia and three from four here. It's Kotulskaia who is

taking them into the home straight and Everard is in danger of being

run out of things here. Can she hold on? It's going to be close for

third place. The time 2:03.10. Not as quick as the first one. It will

go down to a photofinish. Times don't matter now. It is just the

first three to advance to the final. I think Ciara Everard knows it was

very tight in the end. Jenny Meadows will have watched that with

interest. Everard dipping with the head rather than the chest and

Lenka Masna threw herself into it. The official confirmation is that

Everard has been given third place and she will move through to the

final. Encouraging for Jenny. I didn't see a lot that will be a

threat for Jenny. A great deal of encouragement there for Jenny

Meadows. It is a Russian one-two in the high

jump final. We saw Robbie Grabarz go out. He is going to finish in

sixth place. It is about Russia all the way now. He gets it! One of his

Holly Bleasdale, our first European indoor champion. Jenny Meadows,

defending European champion, qualifying in away we didn't expect

after the heat yesterday. It Jemimah does has the skill and

reputation, she has come here and delivered the performance.

That is what we were hoping for, with Dwain Chambers. For the

selectors, it is complex. An incredible performance. She took it

out from the beginning and said, I have worked hard and I am going to

make you all work. It was a real difference in

performance from the day before when she had struggled.

It proves, the conversation she had with her coach, Trevor, the

straight in her training, probably more geared to 1,500m. A completely

different tactic. It paid dividends. We will hear from Holly Bleasdale

shortly. First, the men's 400m semi-finals. Nigel Levine has been

form here. He has found himself in a difficult semi-final. None of

them are to be -- it up easy. He would have preferred to have been

in the outside two lanes but they have been taken by the favourites,

Brian Gregan, Europe's fastest this year. And Pavel Maslak, the one to

fortuitously won the French indoor championships, from the inside.

Another man here, a fastest loser. He has never broken 47 seconds

indoors. Nigel Levine. European Under 23

champion. He ran so well in Birmingham, which gave him

confidence. Volodymyr Burakov from Ukraine. He

has run under 47 this year. Pavel Maslak it is in great form, he has

time. Something which might stand losers. Richard Strachan to come in

semi-finals, pushing and shoving. the first 100 metres. Nigel Levine

is trying to get himself into a good position and he might have

done enough. Will Pavel Maslak try to fight him for the lead? He

shouts of the British athlete. Once more, Brian Gregan, cutting across

are too quickly. He is out. The two men in the front well clear. Pavel

Maslak looking in control. Nigel Levine trying to hang on to him, he

will get through no problems, he is tiring a little. Pavel Maslak looks

comfortable, the man to beat in this Championship. The fastest man

is sitting down on the track, the man who came here as Europe's

quickest, Brian Gregan. Sitting on the side. He looks like he may have

turned an ankle. That was, am not going to say it was his own fault.

Drama, again. Nigel Levine was clear. He was kicked from behind by

a Volodymyr Burakov. That is a shame. Pavel Maslak has looked in

great form, in real talent. Nigel Levine is safely through after all

of that. It is accidental, Badenoch think Volodymyr Burakov... He is

holding his line. If you come across so hard, you are running the

risk of going across someone's legs. He also then turns his ankle, Brian

Gregan. Thankfully, Nigel Levine was ahead of all of that. Pavel

Maslak is a lovely looking runner, look at his control. Nigel Levine

is trying to hang on to him. I'm sure he would have liked to give

him something to think about. Pavel Maslak turns it on a little bit

more, Nigel Levine is starting to tire. A good time. Look how

Maslak, with a season's best, The man who just got through, Nigel

Levine. We always knew there would be

bumping and barging, thankfully you managed to avoid it. It is quite

difficult. I tried to make the most of it to qualify. Is the first time

I have made a European final. Pavel Maslak is very strong. We will see

what happens to tomorrow. Obviously, Pavel Maslak -- Pavel Maslak will

be the main contender. He is quite strong. Yes, tomorrow. We wish you

the very best. Thank you for coming to join us, Holly Bleasdale,

European champion, gold-medallist, Ind the most dramatic fashion.

have never experienced anything like that before, I have never done

a jump-off before. I was so happy when I cleared it, I wanted to run

around everywhere, I was so happy. I have rarely seen that, what did

they put to you? We both tied for gold medal. We could either take

the gold medal together, or jump and two ever cleared first would

win. I wanted to keep jumping. We went back down to 67. I cleared it.

Here I am, with the gold medal. you have a look at our monitor, you

can see you're winning jump. Your thoughts? It looks so slow on

there! That is probably one of my best jumps of the day. You know at

that point you have got the gold medal, a strange think in a

competition when you go head to head, like a penalty shoot-out.

there was so much pressure. When she missed it, I knew I was up for

this jump, I was so confident to clear it. That is the best feeling,

I am so happy to be gold-medallist, at Cardiff and believe I am saying

it. Robbie Grabarz didn't do as well as we expected. I know you

were a little bit nervous, and suddenly it came good. My third

attempt, everyone had cleared its first time, I was in 4th place, I

was so nervous. If I didn't clear it, I was out of the medals. And

from there, I came confidently and positively through. Here I am now.

How are you going to celebrate tonight? I do not know. I favourite

puddings, cheesecake, I will eat a whole one! European champion, Holly

semi-final, coasting down the last semi -- 30 metres. Two Britons in

the second semi-final. Good performances in their first heat.

Look out for the tall Russian on the outside, her Pavel Trenikhin.

Three to go through. Look out for Vitaliy Butrym as well. Michael

Bingham, three-times silver- medallist from the European

Championships outdoors. Richard Strachan produced a very brave run

in the last European Championships, trying to stay with the favourite

but ended up just outside the medals. Trenikhin, you think of

indoor specialists, small men, but he bucks the trend. A tall, long

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 48 seconds

first semi-final that trouble can await in be clustered confines of

the indoors 400m. They break around the bend. To get the best position.

Michael Bingham and Richard Strachan doing well. Pavel

strong, has he gone out too quickly. Plenty of room. Michael Bingham is

under pressure but he looks to be holding on. Richard Strachan is

tiring. The two Britons do get through in just about the same time.

They hold on for second and third, but some distance behind the winner,

Pavel Trenikhin, who better is the time of Pavel Maslak, of with the

quickest time indoors this year. Trenikhin was very impressive,

Steve? Very impressive, he is the only man

to beat Pavel Maslak, in Russia, on his home patch. I wasn't sure that

was a true representation of where they live. But that was very good.

It was more of a battling performance, well done to our guys.

It will be a cracking final. Great Britain got our men in there, we

have a chance. Trenikhin responding very well to

the effort of Pavel Maslak it in the previous semi-final. Richard

Strachan and Michael Bingham go through. You can see the lactic

acid building up. Tiring of his legs, but enough to hang on to take

second place, ahead of Michael 400m. You would expect the British

trio to be slugging it out for bronze. They will hope for a lot

better. The final is tomorrow Michael is here with me now. How

did you go there? You made it through to the final safely? Yes,

unfortunately, I was near the last spot so I don't know where I'm

going to be. Indoors is fun. I love coming here talking to you, the

BBC! I mean, it was a fast race. I didn't get out like I wanted to. I

was watching too much. That is part of the learning curve. Being in the

final as well, so anything can happen. It can be eventful? It can

be eventful, it will be fast, I hope I'm on the podium. Let's hope

it is the turn of Dmitrik - oh no, he dragged it off! That guarantees

the gold medal for Mudrov. That is a big surprise. He is twice the

Russian champion. This guy was much fancied to become the champion here

in Gothenburg. Nevertheless, it's a It's going to be a silver medal for

that guy. What has Mudrov got left? This is 2.37m. No it wasn't to be.

Three valiant attempts at the new height. There is our new European

Indoor High Jump Champion. Robbie Grabarz finished in sixth

place. There is the result. A new lifetime

best for Sergey Mudrov. Robbie Grabarz spoke to Phil Jones after

the final. It didn't quite click for you today? I came in with a lot

of pressure on my shoulders. I didn't enjoy myself out there. My

performance showed that. Physically, I'm all there. I have to come back

and put a brave face on. Do you think the added attention that's

come with being an Olympic medallist, that kind of thing, is

having an effect? I would say so. Just myself putting that pressure

on myself, though. It doesn't matter what anyone's expectations

are, mine are always higherment I come to a Championships to win it!

Being here and performing like that -- always higher. I come to a

Championships to win it! What can I do? I can bring in Richard Strachan

now. It is all go down here today. Well done on making through to the

final. Yes. It wasn't quite how I expected it. The Russian's PB is

21.20 through 200m. Really, he was going out slowly. My aim was to hit

the first and it did make me tense up a little bit. I thought he was

going to die. Tomorrow is a new day. Me and Nigel, both into the final,

and Michael as well? Yes. All three in the final, which is great for

our relay team. You have double duty tomorrow with the relay to

come. It bodes well for that. In the final, once you are there, so

much can happen as we have seen in both the men's and women's races

today, people being tripped? Yes, I didn't see Michael Green. I could

hear Katharine Merry discussing it on the tannoy. Anything can happen

indoors. We are coming at speed to run together, it is messy, we have

to stay out of trouble. I have had a lot of races this year. Hopefully,

tomorrow is the tactical one to get right. All the very best. Thank you

very much. Thank you, everyone. Next up on track is Laura Muir

going in the 1500m final. What a mad hour or so it's been here at

the Scandinavium Arena. Let's look back to the 400m. Three British

runners in the final. I think they are going for bronze after we saw

Maslak run so well. It looked like he had more to give. I saw him

looking again at Nigel Levine, but he's looked in great form. I think

Richard Strachan and the other guys, they are running for bronze. They

will have to fight it out. That is the most important thing, if they

keep a wise head and don't battle with the top two. They go through

very quickly indeed. 21.30 is a strong performance. Whoever has the

wisest head will take the bronze medal. Paula, you will be

commentating on the women's 1500m. Talk about Laura and what she has

achieved in getting to this final? She has achieved a huge amount by

getting to this final. We is seen Holly get the team off to a start

with the medal haul. It will be great to see Laura come out with a

medal here. It is difficult. Thinking back to yesterday, we saw

the interview that Laura did, she was so nervous, you wondered how

she would respond and she has risen to the occasion? Absolutely. When

she is interviewed she comes across as a bit insecure in the situation.

When she is out there running, she shows that she feels that she

belongs there and she can learn from being there. That is what she

needs to do, not be afraid and go out and run her race. Thank you. It

is going to be the big moment for Sweden. The women's 1500m final.

Steve Cram? Thanks, Jonathan. That is where we

are located at the end of the home straight on the far side of the

track. The women are lined up to start the final. I think it will be

an intriguing race. You are right. Aregawi is the red-hot favourite. A

couple of names to pick out. Soboleva ran a world record and it

is not long after that that she started her doping ban. She is

running 4:10 these days, so she is back and the other Russian is

interesting, Podosenova. They have sent her this year in case it was

slow. I don't think it will be. Well done Laura Muir for making the

final. Just 19 years of age. My information is correct, I think.

She went to the same high school as Eilidh Child. A student of Glasgow

University and has done brilliantly to get here. Already, she is

putting herself in a good position. She is going to have a look and see

what goes on in these early laps. Aregawi happy to sit in second.

Soboleva is moving up on the outside. Laura Muir did well there

to get herself out of a box. The girls were waiting for Aregawi to

do what she is doing now. They weren't sure what to do when she

didn't. Laura did well and she has got herself in a great position.

Through 300m in 51 seconds. She's moved things on a little bit. This

is probably the best tactic. When you are that much better than

everybody else, she doesn't mind being at the front. She was taken

round with pacemakers in a fast time. I'm surprised with a 68 first

400m that the others aren't closer. I'm very surprised that nobody has

tried to bridge that gap. They can't all think they can sit around

and run easily there and stay out of trouble but also have the

finishing kick that others do have. I'm thinking of Rodriguez. Maybe

Laura could edge to the front a bit here and not be afraid to go past

Kareiva. Well, Macias is the only one representing Spain. Kareiva is

going so slow that it is ridiculous. There is no reason why they should

be going this slow. They all think they can kick. Everyone thinks they

have the finish. They have given the gold to Aregawi. This is a

procession. This is ridiculous. They have handed her the gold medal

and haven't had a go. It is good to see Laura Muir putting a bit of

pace into that second group. It was good to see Laura move through and

pick it up. Macias moved around to cover her. It is a long lap of

honour for Aregawi. She doesn't have to do anything. She can cruise

from now on in. I wish a few people had done that in my day! It is

ridiculous. Let's rejoice in the fact that Laura Muir is still in

the battle for a medal. She is at the front of that group. Soboleva

almost came a cropper on that lap. Her team-mate caught her from

behind. They come round now, two laps for the leaders. The real

battle is on for the minor medals. Aregawi is moving at an amazing

pace. She's picking it up. Now it is two races. Soboleva leading out

the race for second. This has been easy for Aregawi. The crowd are on

their feet now applauding what will be a Swedish gold medal. She's had

this all to herself, going through the bell now and there is a scrap

on behind her. Podosenova leading at the moment, Kareiva is trying to

get involved. Laura Muir is still there. It's Broniatowska. The gold

medal will go to Sweden. Aregawi has pulled one out of the bag.

Broniatowska - no, Macias gets the silver, Laura Muir in eighth. There

was never any doubt beforehand about who was probably the best

athlete, who was the best athlete was always likely to win. The

others weren't interested in giving her any sort of race whatsoever. It

was about the other eight women having a battle for the silver and

the bronze. That became a sprint over the last 300m. It was never

going to suit Laura Muir. She ran a personal best to make the final.

It's been a good day for Sweden. They won a bronze in the long jump

earlier on and now they expected this gold medal and it has been

delivered. It was a time trial for Aregawi there. Gets to win a gold

in front of her home crowd. People went into that race thinking she

was the winner and all they were racing for was for second. Macias

finished strongly and Broniatowska very happy with the bronze medal

for Poland. Laura Muir looked tired in there. You can see it's taken a

lot out of her this weekend. She's ran a PB this weekend. She almost

ran her heat yesterday as her final. Hopefully, she will take something

from that and come back stronger and grow into the summer. A good

performance for the girl from Kinross to make it to the final.

The gold goes to Sweden, as battle for the minor medals. Macias

of Spain following her team-mate to take the silver medal.

Laura Muir conducted herself very well. A good personal best to make

it to the final. That was a strange race to come into. She is with Phil.

Steve calling that a strange race. How bizarre was it from your

perspective? Yes, it was really tough. I wasn't sure what to do

when I was at the front. Everyone was bunching up. I ran it as best

as I could. It's my first final. It was a high quality field. I did

everything I wanted to achieve yesterday. I'm happy with my

position. I suppose yesterday was your final, wasn't it, running a

personal best? That was the performance for me. I have never

done - that was a PB for me. I'm happy. Obviously, you will take

forward a lot of confidence from what you have been able to do on

your senior debut here in a big British team? Yes. It shows that I

have a lot to come yet. No, I am pleased. A big thank you to

everybody at Glasgow University. They have been so supportive.

Everybody back home. And also a big thank you to Scottish Athletics. UK

Futures Programme. I have had so much support and my coach Andy and

my friends and family. I couldn't have done it without them. You have

done them proud. That was a good trip down memory lane. Jonathan

Edwards, who broke the world record here, outdoors, way back in 1995.

I'm sure he will enjoy watching this, the triple jump final,

Daniele Greco, of Italy, surprise 4th place at the Olympics last year.

He has really come on, literally, in leaps and bounds. 24 years old

now. A good start for him. That certainly looked around the 70-

metre mark. Nobody has been over 17 metres so far. Quite a modest start

by most of the athletes in the competition. 17 metres exactly, he

the moment from a man who has been over 17 metres this season. He set

his lifetime best at 17.06. His credentials are that he is the

Russian indoor champion. That is pretty good in itself. That looked

better, much, much better for Ruslan Samitov. Certainly among the

medals now. He enjoyed that. He is not very tall. Not very rangy. But

so, so powerfully and -- built. And technically excellent. He

maintained his speed, that is the secret. Second, behind Italy.

Aleksey Fyodorov, another good triple jumping or long jumping,

they have a very strong team here. That could well be the longest jump

we have seen so far today. It is 17 metres this year. His lifetime

best, 17.05, a couple of seasons ago. This has come at just the

right time. Waiting patiently for the distance. Abed he knows it is a

prodigious distance, indeed it is. -- I bet he knows.

Daniele Greco held the lead for quite some time with that first

round jump. One of the last jumpers to go in round three, as we

approach the halfway stage of the competition. That was very good

17.24. That has got to be a season's best, surely? Again, it

has come at the right time. Indeed it is. The Italian is back in the

We are going to look back at something which happened on BBC One,

the women's semi-finals, at a particularly good performance from

Perri Shakes-Drayton when she looked in supreme form.

She was majestic. Balanced, controlled, and quick. She was able

to back up a great day yesterday. She commanded the race. Finishing

with 51.03, Great indoor running from someone who is relatively

young. We are used to seeing her outdoors, and on hurdles. Here she

is, in prime position to do well. There was some argy-bargy in one of

the semi-finals. A disqualification. Perri, in the Olympic Games, she

underperformed, with an injury. She has arrived here in great shape.

That final is tomorrow morning. Now, the men's 3,000 metres final. A new

champion, the last two championships have been won by Mo

representing Azerbaijan. Two very good French then. Con valley Jo,

silver-medallist in the 1,500 European Championships last year --

Florian Carvalho. Ciaran O Lionaird has an outside chance. All sorts of

Achilles heel problems last year. Yoann Kowal, European indoors

college in Florida, training in Oregon at distance running. He

contemplated his future after the Olympics, where he trailed in

second last in his heat. That was the hard track of London which was

not good for his injury. He is in much better shape. Look for Hayle

The little figure in the red shirt and black shorts, Hayle Ibrahimov,

it would be too long before he is at the front.

PAULA RADCLIFFE: He ran at a decent pace in his heat. I was thinking he

might do the same here but I don't think the others will let him.

Right now, it is a Florian Carvalho of France leading it out, he showed

no fear in going with Mo Farah in Birmingham.

He scuttled around the outside, watching him all the way was Arikan,

the former Kenyan athlete, now much indoors. It is different, more

times around the track. The banks. More of a physical race. Hayle

Ibrahimov happy to sit behind, not super-fast at this stage.

A Kenyan and Ethiopian turned Turk. back in 8th position of tucked

behind Bouafif, the Swedish athlete. The big danger is in the closing

stages. Florian Carvalho it settling into third place. I am

waiting to seek the Hayle Ibrahimov injecting some made race pace. --

running 7.45 pace. It asks questions of people and strings out

the field a little bit. Arikan does not want to let his

great rival dictate the pace. The two French men are still there.

Florian Carvalho followed by Juan Carlos Higuero. Pretty much as you

year are held by the American, which he ran in Stockholm. The

Championship record is held by Mo on his heels. It is the two men in

front, Ibrahim Moss, and the slightly taller figure behind, from

Turkey, Arikan. Juan Carlos Higuero already

starting to look, working hard. Moving up a little bit to get

closer. We have gone past the halfway stage. Hayle Ibrahimov,

metre laps. Arikan coming around the upside. It can't help but to

have a team mate. You feel that buoyancy from a team-mate you know

so well, they are sitting in a good position. Arikan in front. Ciaran O

Lionaird in 7th position, by no means out of this, still very much

in touch. Focused on Juan Carlos Higuero,

watching what he is doing. Moving around. Florian Carvalho is

watching what Arikan is doing. Keeping himself where he needs to

Florian Carvalho comes round to give Arikan a bit of company. At

the moment, plenty of company, Arikan. Ciaran O Lionaird is making

good progress as Florian Carvalho it injects a little bit of pace. A

bit of trouble between Arikan and Hayle Ibrahimov who was watching

Florian Carvalho. He may have the edge come the finish.

If Hayle Ibrahimov goes in the next lap or so, he has a chance to push

them and make them work harder than they want to, especially Juan

Carlos Higuero. Ciaran O Lionaird is not close enough if they take

off now. It is the two French meant out in

French. Hayle Ibrahimov watching all the way. Arikan having another

tussle with Hayle Ibrahimov who is desperate to get out in front. The

pace begins to lift and the field stretches. Some stragglers at the

back are beginning to get lost. Still there very much his Ciaran O

Lionaird. Arikan looks to be spent. 400m to go, two laps to go. In

front is Hayle Ibrahimov and the two French athletes.

Now, Ciaran O Lionaird is looking good, his 1,500m background helping

He sits on the shoulder of Hayle Ibrahimov. We are in for a

thrilling final 200m. Can Ciaran O Lionaird live with Hayle Ibrahimov?

Florian Carvalho is still with them. Hayle Ibrahimov hits the

accelerator again and stretches away. Ciaran O Lionaird is there!

Hayle Ibrahimov gets the gold. Ciaran O Lionaird has to settle for

the bronze medal. But a hard-earned bronze. A very precious bronze

medal for Ciaran O Lionaird. No doubt about Hayle Ibrahimov, the

winner. A very deserved winner as well. Very deserved winner. He ran

a very, very controlling race. The field let him jump in-and-out. We

saw him getting into a few tussles with Arikan. He believed he had the

finish and he did. You always have to watch the Spanish! Higuero came

flying around. Ciaran O Lionaird will be disappointed with that race.

A very, very good run from Ciaran O Lionaird to take that bronze medal.

He thought he had the silver, but Higuero comes through to take the

silver. But still a medal for Ciaran O Lionaird. Nothing for Kow

a l. Here we see the finish again. Hayle Ibrahimov had too much?

he does have a finish. He does have the pace. He is not going as fast

as Higuero. He has been there many times before. He knew how to time

his effort and Ciaran O Lionaird mistimed it. He's run very well to

get the bronze. I mentioned the man who finished second last in his

heats in the Olympics last year so a bronze medal is something to

celebrate and not to rue missing out on the silver. The winner is

Hayle Ibrahimov. Greco went back into the lead

having lost it temporarily. This is the end of the fourth

round! That is huge! That is a massive jump by this young Italian.

Where did he get that from? Gets the white flag. Well, the crowd

have erupted here and goodness knows how far Greco has jumped.

Almost spot on the board. Tremendous step phase. Maintained

his speed. And that is closer to 18m. Look at that! 17.70m. One of

the longest jumps ever indoors. Daniele Greco will not be beaten

here today, that's for sure. A great moment for Ireland. Ciaran

O Lionaird taking the bronze medal. It was a great race. He was there

right to the end and hung on to take the medal. One man who has

joined us now who enjoyed watching that - I'm not sure what to call

you, you have that many titles now! LAUGHTER You don't normally have a

problem calling me something! enough. It is great to have you

here. Thank you. Obviously, a big Championships for you, this. Your

career kicked off in 1977, didn't it? Thanks for carbon-dating me(!)

It was in black-and-white! We have seen it before, actually. It was in

black-and-white! LAUGHTER If you look at a lot of the seasoned

internationals that are out on the circuit at the moment, so often

their careers were kick-started by their careers were kick-started by

what they did indoors. It is a great opportunity to blood young

talent. I came to an indoors not knowing anything about

international competition. At the end of that year, I had three or

four really good indoor outings that sort of created the platform

for what I went on to do over the for what I went on to do over the

next two or three years. Indoor racing is good. It's - it really

improves the on-board computer. In middle distance running, you have

to make decisions really quickly. You get it wrong in a fleeting

moment and the race is gone. It is a good experience. Certainly

looking to your event, the 800m, you must have been impressed with

Mukhtar Mohammed? I was. That was a strong piece of controlled running.

What do you look for? You look for good tactical sense when you break

from lanes, you look at the ability to always figure out what the exit

strategy is and then to press on in the "killing zone" which is that

600m to 800m part of the race, you know, pretty much the last quarter

and he did everything right today. I think there is a medal out there

tomorrow. There could be. Thanks for the moment. We will focus now

on the men's 60m, that final coming up shortly. Let's look at how the

up shortly. Let's look at how the athletes got there. This is

semifinal one. Harry Aikines- Aryeetey had a lot to do to make it

through to this final. He is up against Michael Tumi.

Tumi out well. Harry Aikines- Aryeetey left behind. Michael Tumi

and Harry was in with a chance of fourth. Not sure he got it in the

end. It was so close. A blanket Dasaolu going in lane six. Again he

had his work cut out to make it through to the final.

Away quickly, but James Dasaolu is storming through to take it in

6.53! A stunning run from the Briton. That was quite a run from

James Dasaolu. Seb, you have talked about the importance of these

Championships. There was a great example of finding new form?

Fantastic. In every - over 60m, the phases come quicker and faster than

100m - that's obvious! He got out very well and held it and didn't

really get into full stride until probably about 40-50 metres and

looked remarkably strong. He runs tall, too. Yes. The big thing for

him now is living with that pressure and can he do it in the

final? That, of course, is Championship racing. You are asking

the question that every athlete will be asking themselves and the

coaches will be asking. There is no remedy for the experience of being

out in a Championship. This is why Championships are so important.

They are entirely different. You guys I hope would agree that they

are on a different planet compared to the one-off performance, going

through the rounds, learning to live and deal with the time that's

on your hands, it is a very important experience. The quicker

you can get young athletes into this environment the better. That

is an interesting point to bring up. I knew where that was going!

gave it to me! UK Athletics have focused on the elite end and

winning medals when perhaps in the 1500m they might have chosen to

blood some athletes here? Listen, you will always back the judgment

of selectors, you have to. You are not on the inside making these

judgments. When push comes to shove, I would always like young athletes

being given the opportunity when it doesn't matter to find their form.

On the other hand, there has to be an incentive. You can't just send

athletes out to have a run through. There has to be a point at which

you think it is worth sending them that the learning curve will be

extended, that they really will come back here in better shape to

take up the challenge in a year or two years' time. They are difficult

decisions. Harry Aikines-Aryeetey going in this final. Colin, all

eyes are on James Dasaolu. Let's get over to our commentators for

this one. Thank you very much. I'm loving

listening Seb talk about the 60m. Brilliant. He and I know as much

about the 60m - never mind, let's not go there! The start list looks

coming into this. Biron a surprise package. Tumi was a clear winner in

his semifinal. Tumi with more to give, perhaps.

Jaysuma Saidy Ndure, the Norwegian champion. He is one of their big

heroes. 25 years of age now, James Dasaolu. It has taken a while for

this talent to flourish. 6.52 in the semifinal.

Vicaut, was he easing back? We will find out.

Then Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. He has run a couple of season's best. Is

there more to come? The Swedish champion - he will get

a real cheer! Odain Rose. 20 years of age. A new personal best. He is

in the final. Great Britain have won this event on nine occasions in

the last 13 Championships. Four of them went to Jason Gardener. It is

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 48 seconds

a real good tradition. France have Vicaut! I think Vicaut got it.

James Dasaolu might have leaned - it will be very close. A

photofinish will decide this. Arms were going up around me. Vicaut is

not sure. He is getting congratulations from Biron. This is

close. Vicaut is on our side. I think he got it. It is coming up on

the computer and under 6.50, Vicaut for the first time becomes the

French champion. In second place - or becomes the European Champion -

Dasaolu with a superb clocking, 6.48, the same time as this man

takes the silver. It was so close. Just on that lean you could see

Vicaut had the momentum going into the line. Unbelievable that France

have never won this gold medal and now Vicaut, the great young talent

we have seen over the last few years, wins his first senior gold

medal. Now, Dasaolu moves further up the British ranks, under 6.50,

that is a really good performance. He has come of age. He should not

be disappointed with the silver. Because he got so close, he will

wish that of course things were different. That is a really good

performance from him. It was indeed Tumi who took the bronze with 6.52.

They were the three top men. I wondered whether Vicaut was holding

something back and that proved to be the case. He was so relaxed in

that semi and was happy to let in the semi-final, he wasn't

coasting towards the end but he looked as if he was holding

something back. She James Dasaolu, a coming-of-age

in this a championships. Denied have done it so well in this 60m. A

silver medal. I think he is pleased. Let us go to our 60m expert, Seb

Coe. By M deeply offended that you don't

think that my natural expertise is on the 60m. You haven't heard me on

the shot put! It was a terrific run, I'm not sure

that half a stride wouldn't have made a difference in the end. You

are right, though, he didn't come out of the blocks as well as he did

in the semi. I would love to see what the reaction time was. A

really strong piece of running. Interesting to get Colin's book on

this, as a real sprinter. He got out very well indeed. To run

that speed of 6.48, that time, you cannot get out of the blocks slowly.

In comparison, you have to move those first 10m to get that time of

performance. A bold run. I can understand why he is slightly

disappointed. 6.48 is normally a winning time at a European

Championships. And a big and ever seen and indoors silver-medallist

run at 6.48. A tremendous run by James. He should be proud of that

performance. A Jimmy Vicaut, Denise, the French athlete, maybe a shock

in the semi-finals with the way James Dasaolu ran.

He appeared to be holding back in those closing 15 metres. Seeing

James's time alerted him to the fact, there is no messing around in

this final, I have to deliver. What is without doubt is this is a

massive breakthrough for this young man. Watching London 2012,

disappointed perhaps not to make an impact. He has turned it around.

It is amazing and an interesting point, the Olympic Games, it is an

obvious thing to say, competitors can come out having performed above

expectations, even take medals, or you can come out of it by you have

underperformed. A lot of what we are saying out here today, our

athletes, they are in a hurry to get back into the groove. Jenny

Meadows is a good example this afternoon, lovely to see her back

again, having had a year out, with frustrations, looking as strong and

confident as she did. This is not just about physical rebuilding,

these championships early in the first part of the air that

immediately followed an Olympic Games, are a mental Munton for some

of these athletes to climb. It is the start of another Olympic

cycle. For all of these athletes, you always have that Olympic Games

in Rio as a target. He is about making changes, looking

at your coaching set-up. James has had a good season last year, Lowe

10 seconds. It is about building for him, this will set his 2013

campaign after a brilliant start. European leader. Bronze medal.

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, a season's best.

In terms of the medal table, still timetable, 15 medals to be won in

total, Britain have a number of chances in the events. Jenny

Meadows looking very strong in James Dasaolu, I am sure he is

delighted with his performance. For a tremendous performance, the

semi-final was fantastic. A I knew it would be tough beer a day is the

Italian and French athlete. -- a tough race against.

The coming here, you said you would win a medal. To win a silver medal

in 6.48 must review with a tinge of disappointment. Yes, I am even

happier with 6.48. I didn't expect to run that time. I am really happy

with my performance. Tell me about that feeling on the line when you

have run as fast as you have, and as a favourite.

My coach said, keep calm, go through as he did in the semi-final.

Everyone stepped it up, as it was the final. It was tough out there.

Now, you can celebrate and carry forward on to great things. For of

course. Track and field is an outdoors sport. I hope that this

will help with my 100 metres time. Well done.

He is very happy indeed. He is excited about the time as much as

the fact of a medal. Athletes who run under 6.50... He

will look at those statistics and say, I am going under 10 this

summer. Another British athlete. That medal, it will make the

difference. When it comes to competing.

It is the platform. At the end of our careers, what do we sit down

and look at? Performances in championships. He has won his first

Championship medal. That is the platform. That is what he can build

Silver for James. A gold medal for Holly Bleasdale in the pole vault.

It was looking dodgy early on, she ended up in a jump off against the

And, she nailed it. Earlier on, she looked a little bit shaky.

I remember seeing her, lip-reading, saying, my pole is that too stiff,

and she made a change. Her competitive head really kicked in.

She had some difficult moments but when it really counted, when

difficulties presented themselves, she handled her nerves. Steve Cram

has been looking forward to this, Seb Coe, on the pole vault!

really don't want to upset Steve here. I will admit I don't know

very much about the pole vault, but I do know somebody who does. Of all

the athletes out there at the moment, she has the greatest scope

to perform and improve. I remember talking to athlete's and experts,

there is so much scope for her. Watching her training and competing.

I do think that, I am not going to add very much to that. It is a big

step forward for her. Disappointed in London, a lot of people thought

she could win a medal. The trauma, talking with her coach. Home town

pressure. She came here as a number one in Europe. This will give her

confidence. It has to. When you wind championships, it is what the

The let us look at Jenny Meadows in her semi-final. You saw her in her

heat yesterday, and you soy different athlete. It was her

second outing yesterday, in her heat, her first race back yesterday.

Birmingham. She had an outing in Birmingham. These are tentative

steps. The most important thing for her at the moment, it is just to

get the line and length. A boxing analogy, you are ring rusty, unless

you have been there on a regular basis. What she will be primarily

concerned about is whether she has enough background to see herself

through the third round which will be the final tomorrow. If you see

the way she has improved between the heat and the semi-final, I

think she will probably be all right, and I will predict a medal.

The kiss of death! If there was actually an interesting moment

today, around 500 metres, the field started to close on her. She surged

to, and opened it out again. It was that proactive move at 500 metres

that actually kept the rest of the field away from her, so she was

able to control it. That shows me she has the confidence. Her

endurance, given her trials and tribulations last year, we will

find out more tomorrow. One be we are certain of with Jenny Meadows,

she will give 100%. Absolutely, she has a big heart. What she is

struggling with is that feeling of competitiveness. It was an

incredible race, a fantastic surge. It bodes well for tomorrow. We have

seen great 800 metres running. As behind him.

Still, they are not closing the gap. Seb Coe it is going away again. He

is really taking them on, and he has done it from the front. Coming

away, looking fault of fight. Two remarkable wins, a remarkable

record. Just outside the world record indoors. Seb Coe has the

Do you remember it as if it was yesterday? The lovely thing about

that is, we had come out of an ordinary 1984 Olympic Games.

Suddenly, we went indoors, we got three gold medals in the space of

14 minutes. In the 800. Mary Stuart in the 1500s. Anyway, it signalled

the arrival of a few youngsters. It was a good championships.

Thanks for coming to join us. Tomorrow, the final day of this