Great Britain & Northern Ireland secured a stunning second-place finish in the European Athletics U23 Championships medal table with four medals on the final day in Bergen.

The women’s 4x100m and women’s 4x400m teams each set championship records to win gold.

Justin Davies and Abigail Pawlett both won their first major medals with silver in the men’s 800m and women’s heptathlon, respectively.

It took GB & NI’s total to 11 with four golds, four silvers and three bronzes.

The women’s 4x100m relay team lowered their own championship record to win gold in a time of 42.92.

It marks the first time a women’s team have gone below 43 seconds at the championships, with Nia Wedderburn-Goodison (Ryan Freckleton, Harrow), Kissiwaa Mensah (Prince Duwai, Chelmsford), Alyson Bell (Anne Scott, Glasgow Jaguars) and Success Eduan (Mike Donnelly, Gateshead) the line-up in the final.

They were joined on the podium by Joy Eze (Mike Donnelly, Gateshead) and Faith Akinbileje (John Blackie, Blackheath and Bromley), who helped Great Britain qualify fastest in the morning’s heats.

UNSTOPPABLE 🥇

The women’s 4x100m relay team lower their Championship Record to take gold in a time of 42.92.

The first team under 43 seconds EVER at the Championships.#Bergen2025 pic.twitter.com/KmDLznBXX3

— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) July 20, 2025

“No [there was no doubt], we were very confident. The team that went out in the heats set an example and we just had to follow that, deliver through to get them a medal as well as ourselves,” Wedderburn-Goodison said.

Bell added: “We just trust each other so much. I knew these girls were fast, I knew I had to get in gear and shift around the bend, but it was so good.”

The women’s 4x400m relay team followed that up by setting a new championship and European U23 record en route to gold.

The final quartet of Rebecca Grieve (Francis Smith, Woodford Green Essex Ladies), Emily Newnham (Nick Dakin, Shaftesbury Barnet), Poppy Malik (Grant Barker, Harrow) and Yemi Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies) stormed to victory in 3:26.52.

They were joined on the podium by Holly Mpassy (Nigel Stickings, Blackheath & Bromley) and Abigail Ives (Luke Gunn, Basildon), who had been part of the team to qualify for the final in the morning session as they won their heat.

“I’m really grateful to have these incredible girls to run with,” John said. “We motivate each other, so we make such a strong team, and to see that on the juniors’ side is really exciting.”

Newnham added: “To walk away with a Championship record as well, that is incredible. We saw the 4×1 women do that, and they gave us a massive pep talk before we went in. We are one team, so it meant a lot.”

Finishing with GOLD 🥇

The women’s 4x400m relay team storm to victory in a time of 3:26.52 for our final medal at the European Athletics U23 Championships.

Oh, and it’s a Championship Record and a European U23 record 💁‍♀️#Bergen2025 pic.twitter.com/C3IqPZvPNr

— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) July 20, 2025

Justin Davies (Martin Rush, Team Bath) showed his strength on the international stage with silver in the men’s 800m.

Davies’ dip on the line secured him second place, with a time of 1:44.97, just 0.01 seconds ahead of Giovanni Lazzaro of Italy in third.

“This one really hasn’t sunk in, I don’t think it will sink in for a while,” he said. “I went into it just wanting to do my best effort, and whatever that was would be good enough.

“In the back of my mind, I knew there was a chance I could get a medal…I thought, what the hell, just give it my best shot, try and play it as smart as possible and see what happens.

“Getting the silver medal is more than I could have ever hoped for coming into these championships.”

Henry Jonas (Chris McGeorge, City of Norwich) was in the mix throughout the race as he finished in fifth, just 0.19 seconds off the medals.

Abigail Pawlett set a new PB and Welsh record en route to heptathlon silver with a score of 6320, 243 behind Saga Vanninen, who set a championship record.

On the second day of competition, Pawlett (Ashley Bryant, Trafford) posted the fourth-best long jump effort, the ninth-best javelin throw and the fifth-best 800m time to comfortably finish second.

She said: “I’m tired, but I am so happy. I can’t even put it into words, it just feels like a really long time coming, and I have finally been able to prove myself on the European stage and the international stage. I’m over the moon.”

In the opening track event of the evening, the women’s 1500m, Mena Scatchard (Leeds City) came home in fourth on her international debut, just 0.3 seconds off a medal, with Ava Lloyd (Trevor Painter, Wigan & District) in 10th.

Kimani Jack (Julian Reid, Shaftesbury Barnett) finished the men’s high jump in eighth, recording three first-time clearances before taking a second attempt to get over 2.16m.

In the morning session, the men’s 4x400m team of Thomas Hockley (Katy Odell, Harrow), Brook Conin (Andrew Kennard, Walton), David Race (Kyle Bennett, Gateshead) and Harry Barton (Wells City) were disqualified for leaving the assigned lane before the break line in their heat.