The Portuguese hurdler produced a historic performance at the Alexander Stadium on Wednesday, 13 August, becoming the first Portuguese athlete to win a European Championships medal in the event.

As reported by the Portuguese Athletics Federation (FPA), Diallo had reached the final after running 54.34 seconds in her semi-final. She then dramatically improved her time in the medal race, taking 76 hundredths of a second off the previous Portuguese record.

Her 53.55-second run also made Diallo the first Portuguese woman to complete the 400m hurdles in under 54 seconds.

The bronze medal represents the best European Championships result ever achieved by a Portuguese athlete in the event and marked the standout moment of Portugal’s third day of competition in Birmingham.

Triple jump final

Portugal will also be represented on Saturday, 15 August, in the men’s triple jump final after Pedro Pichardo secured automatic qualification with his opening attempt.

The Olympic champion produced a 17.16-metre jump on his first effort, which was enough to put him at the top of the qualifying standings and guarantee his place in the final without needing another attempt.

Tiago Luís Pereira came close to joining him but missed out on qualification. His 15.95-metre jump placed him 14th overall, two positions outside the required places, although it represented his best mark of the season.

The Portuguese delegation therefore ended the third day with one historic medal and a place in another major final secured.

The team returns to action on the fourth day of the championships, with Delvis Santos set to compete in the men’s 200m, while Lourenço Rodrigues and Leandro Monteiro will contest the 3,000m steeplechase.

Santos is also scheduled to compete in the 200m semi-finals later in the evening if he progresses from the opening round.