Jake Bayliss

Katarina Johnson-Thompson finished 21st in the heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham after competing through injury. Following an emotional Instagram post about the difficulty of the event, she received messages of support from Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson, Jodie Comer and fellow athletes, who praised her resilience and influence. Ireland’s Kate O’Connor won the heptathlon, while Team GB finished second in the overall medal table with nine gold medals, eight silvers and two bronzes; Amy Hunt won four of Britain’s golds.

Sparse crowds at Birmingham’s European Athletics Championships have prompted criticism from BBC commentator Steve Cram and fans, who blame high ticket prices, costly stadium food, parking charges and weak promotion. A barbecue pork roll costs £18.50, while parking is priced at up to £22.50. Organizers defend the pricing, saying 170,000 tickets have been sold, half cost £30 or less, and later sessions are nearing capacity.