German runner Gesa Felicitas Krause captured her third European 3,000-metre steeplechase gold medal in Birmingham before calmly dismissing tactical criticism from her teammate Lea Meyer.
The 34-year-old athlete from Hesse pulled away with a long final sprint on a stiflingly hot evening to finish in 9 minutes 12.69 seconds. France's Alice Finot took the silver medal in 9:14.24, while Olivia Gürth of Diez secured bronze for Germany in 9:15.33.
Meyer, 28, had set the pace for much of the race before falling at the final water jump, leaving her outside the medal positions. Krause launched her decisive burst on the closing lap to add to her previous European titles won in 2016 and 2018.
The 3,000-metre steeplechase is a track event requiring athletes to clear fixed hurdles and water jumps over seven and a half laps. Krause, a world championship bronze medallist in 2015 and 2019, celebrated her victory alongside her daughter Lola Emilia, who was born in April 2023. Krause had previously claimed a European medal as a mother in Rome in 2024.
Teammate Sparks Tactical Dispute
Following the final, Meyer expressed her frustration in an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF. She said everyone knew Krause refused to do any work at the front of the pack, sitting back before sprinting away at the finish.
Meyer added that she considered herself and silver medallist Finot to be 100 percent the best steeplechase runners in Europe, stating that she felt she deserved to win a medal.
Krause remained unruffled when responding to her teammate's comments. She explained that any runner who undertakes the lead work makes a conscious choice to do so, adding that she is personally not a front runner. Krause noted that accelerating over the final kilometre or last lap is a deliberate strategy, particularly during major championships.
Reflecting on her latest continental success, Krause said she was very proud of the achievement, acknowledging that such winning moments will naturally become less frequent as her career progresses.
Social Media Apology
Meyer later walked back her comments in a post published on Instagram on Friday morning. She wrote that Krause was a deserved European champion who had selected the best tactics and played to her personal strengths.
Meyer acknowledged that tactical intelligence and decision-making are decisive factors in championship racing, offering her congratulations to anyone who perfects their strategy on the day. She added that her initial timing and choice of words had been inappropriate, unprofessional, and unsporting.
