FANS have been left raging after seeing what Audrey Werro did in her semi-final before denying Keely Hodgkinson a gold medal.

The in the 800m at the European Athletics Championships.

European Athletics Championships 2026 - Alexander Stadium - 14 Aug 2026Keely Hodgkinson had to settle for silver in the 800m Credit: Shutterstock Editorial NINTCHDBPICT001101351726Audrey Werro won the final despite her fall in the semi-final Credit: X NINTCHDBPICT001101351729The Swiss runner was reinstated after replays showed contact from Anais Bourgoin Credit: X NINTCHDBPICT001101351723Werro still finished the race despite the fall Credit: X

Werro, 22, beat out Hodgkinson to first place last night in Birmingham to land her first senior international title.

But her spot in the final was under threat after a fall in the semi-final heat on Thursday.

Despite falling, she was reinstated to the final by officials after claiming that she was clipped from behind by France’s Anais Bourgoin.

It had appeared that she had fallen without any contact but replays showed a small touch on her foot by her rival’s hand.

The slow-motion replay showed the hand connect with Werro’s foot, which caused her to trip on her own leg.

Due to the touch from the French runner and the fact that Werro went on to finish meant that she was allowed to compete in the final.

Fans were not happy with the decision with many concerned over the precedent it could set for other runners who fall.

One posted: “The smallest of hits from another athlete really affected her own foot hitting her other leg in effectively tripping herself up.”

European Athletics ChampionshipsWerro beat Hogkinson in the final Credit: Reuters

A second wrote: “Fell over herself. Clear and obvious. Decision to advance her is a fudge, pure and simple.”

A third commented: “WRONG, just wrong, if someone had tripped her, maybe, but not from looking at this clip. She hit her left calf muscle with her right foot. Her mistake.”

, 24, had previously insisted that she had hoped Werro would be in the final despite the fall.

She said: “Obviously it’s a real shame and I hope she’s OK.

European Athletics ChampionshipsWerro took home her first senior international title Credit: Reuters Britain European Championships AthleticsHodgkinson had wanted Werro in the final Credit: AP

“I hope she’s in the final tomorrow [Friday], that’d be a really exciting race.”

After the final race, was left with “mixed emotions” after failing to defend her title.

She told the BBC: “I think with that level of competition, any medal is a really good achievement and another one to add to my collection, so I can never be disappointed with that.

“But I’m defending champion, so I wanted to do that.

“I knew it was going to come down to the wire but I really thought I was going to win.

“It wasn’t meant to be. I didn’t do anything wrong – it was just one of those things.”