On the 800 m anything can happen, so predictions are somewhat risky. This time however many would have agreed that reigning champion Adam Kszczot was a huge favourite, with just world champion Pierre-Ambroise Bosse likely to threaten him in the final straight when the Pole would undoubtedly unleash his deadly sprint finish once more.
Kszczot hadn't run extremely fast this year, so a really fast race might have worried him. But then again, none of the other seven competitors looked likely to set a fast pace. And so it proved, as Andreas Kramer took the lead, went through 200 in a modestly quick 25.04, but then didn't feel he needed to do a pacemakers job. Just before they took the bell in a quite slowish 53.14 Bosse had had enough of that. He resolutely took the lead and suddenly the pace went way up. Bosse was obviously intending to run straight for home, just as he did last year in the World Championships. Kramer was able to hang on, Kszczot followed as well, all the others were struggling though.
Kszczot apparently felt so strong that he decided not even to wait for the final straight. Around the final bend he went confidently into the lead and was off for the gold by the time they reached the final straight. Bosse was tiring at this point and so Kramer could retake second place. But the Frenchman rescued the bronze as he was just able to stay ahead of the two other Poles, who both had to settle for a new PB. Kszczot, by the way, ran the second lap a full two seconds faster than the first, which indicates how strong his finish is.
And so Adam Kszczot is European Champion once more. He is the first man to score three European Outdoor 800m titles. And of course he has three European Indoor titles as well. Quite a list.
Result: 1 Adam Kszczot POL 1:44.59 2 Andreas Kramer SWE 1:45.03 3 Pierre-Ambroise Bosse FRA 1:45.30 4 Michal Rozmys POL 1:45.32 5 Mateusz Borkowski POL 1:45.42 6 Andreas Bube DEN 1:45.92 7 Álvaro de Arriba ESP 1:46.41 8 Lukas Hodbod CZE 1:46.60