Jeremiah Azu delivered a spectacular performance to claim the European Indoor gold in the men’s 60m final, clocking an impressive 6.49 seconds. His victory in Apeldoorn not only cemented his status as one of Britain’s top sprinters but also captivated the packed crowd, who were soon hanging on his every word.
Born in Rotterdam but representing Britain, Azu delighted the Dutch crowd by addressing them in fluent Dutch during his post-race interview. “I am here, I am in the building!” he declared, showcasing confidence both on and off the track.
His triumph carried even greater personal significance, coming just a week after he became a father. His wife, Terri, gave birth to their son, Azaire, and the emotional weight of that moment provided Azu with an extra boost of motivation.
“It’s a huge moment with his father becoming a European champion,” he reflected. “He’s going to be able to look back on this and see what his dad was doing, which is an amazing feeling.” However, he admitted that the past week had been challenging, as sleepless nights became part of his routine.
“Honestly, people go on about sleep, and not that I didn’t believe them, but I feel like everyone over-dramatises it. But they’re not joking at all,” he said with a smile.
Adding to the emotional significance of the night, Azu’s parents, Alex and Cathreen, were present to witness his victory. However, they had little time to celebrate, as they had to rush off to catch the overnight ferry back to Cardiff. His father, Alex, had a sermon to deliver at church the next morning. “My dad’s preaching tomorrow, so he’s getting back at 5am,” Azu explained.
On the podium, Sweden’s Henrik Larsson secured the silver medal with a time of 6.52 seconds, while Britain’s Andrew Robertson took bronze in 6.55. Robertson had only been called up on Monday as a last-minute replacement following a withdrawal.
Reflecting on his unexpected medal, the 34-year-old Robertson said, “I was eating cheesecake last Saturday, and now I’m a bronze medallist. And now I’m going to celebrate with another cheesecake.”
