Audrey Werro, a significant contender for European 800m gold, has been dramatically reinstated into Friday's final. The Swiss athlete was initially out of the race after a fall during Thursday's first semi-final, but a video review revealed she was tripped.
The incident saw Werro's right foot make contact with the left hand of French athlete Anaïs Bourgoin with 120m remaining, causing her to fall. Both Werro and Lithuanian Gabija Galvydyte, who also fell, were reinstated into the 10-strong final on appeal.
This reinstatement sets the stage for a highly anticipated showdown between Werro, Olympic gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson, and the Netherlands' Femke Broeders-Bol. Hodgkinson won her semi-final in 1:57.38, just ahead of Broeders-Bol, and expressed excitement for the challenge ahead, hoping for a "clean race, no one falling over tomorrow."
Broeders-Bol, a 400m hurdles world champion, has moved up to the 800m this season and is not shying away from her chances, stating, "tomorrow’s final is the ultimate race."