European Championships

Gemili crowned European Champion in Zurich

ESPN staff

August 15, 2014

Adam Gemili won bronze in the 100m at the World Championships last year © Getty Images

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Britain's Adam Gemili produced a stunning display to take the gold medal in the men's 200m at the European Championships in Zurich.

The 20-year-old has already won a silver medal in the 100m this week, but this time went one better in the 200m on a cold and soggy night in Switzerland as he stormed to gold by matching his personal best time of 19.98 seconds to finish ahead of 2010 champion Christophe Lemaitre.

"I'm so happy," Gemili told BBC Sport. "To become European champion was a big target for me this year and to achieve it is amazing.

Martyn Rooney secured the first major triumph of his career after winning the gold medal in the men's 400m.

Martyn Rooney finished ahead of Matthew Hudson-Smith in Zurich © Getty Images

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Rooney, who won bronze at the event staged in Barcelona four years ago, finished ahead of team-mate Matthew Hudson-Smith after posting a season's best time of 44.71 seconds.

"I'm delighted to win it," Rooney said. "It's been a long time coming. I've never won a championships in my life, only British trials, so it's great to win on this stage."

World champion Christine Ohuruogu could only manage fourth place in the women's 400m final. "I'm disappointed to finish outside the medals but not heartbroken," she said.

"I was here for something to do. Training at home gets tedious so I thought I would come out and test myself. It's foolish to have a complete year out which I would like ideally."

Jodie Williams won silver in the women's 200m as 100m champion Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands powered her way to the gold medal - with the heptathlete posting the quickest time of the year of 22.03 seconds. Williams also won silver at the Commonwealth Games, but her personal best time of 22.46 seconds could not touch Schippers at the front.

"I'm so happy. To come away with two silver medals at senior level I couldn't ask for any more," Williams said. "I was trying to chase Dafne down but her time was crazy and I got silver and a PB.

"I thought I could get a little bit more out of it tonight but I'm so tired after the Commonwealth Games as well."

Dina Asher-Smith pulled up with a hamstring problem while Bianca Williams finished fourth.

Laura Weightman won bronze in the women's 1500m to add to her silver medal from the Commonwealth Games.

"I'm really pleased with that. I was nervous in the warm-up and didn't know how to play it but with 600m no-one was doing anything so I wanted to push it along," she said.

"It's been an incredible season, running four-minutes flat, the silver at the Commonwealth Games and now this. Without all of [coach] Steve Cram's championship experience I wouldn't be able to be so relaxed and I believe I can go out there and win those medals."

Elsewhere, Olympic and Commonwealth champion Greg Rutherford booked his place in the final of the men's long jump.