Woodford Green Essex Ladies’ Yemi Mary John appreciated the support she received from the British fans during her two excellent silver medal relay performances at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham last week.
The first of her medal successes in GB colours came in the women’s 4x400m relay as the 23-year-old assisted Nicole Yeargin and also Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers clubmates Lina Nielsen and Emily Newnham to a 3:21.68-second place finish.
The Netherlands retained the European title for the second time in 3:21.10 while Italy, who incidentally beat Great Britain to top the medal table after the week’s competition, settled for bronze in 3.23.57.
Then in the 4x400m mixed relay Yemi John could not catch Norway’s Henriette Jæger in the final leg but saw GB home to another silver in 3.10.47.
The Norwegians clocked victory in 3:09.62 while The Netherlands claimed bronze in 3.10.77.
Mary John finished fifth in 51.12 in the women’s 400m individual that was won by Norway’s Henriette Jæger (49.04).
"It's great to have the home crowd support and you really felt it coming into the home straight," she said.
"The support was insane.
"To have experienced that throughout the championships was exciting."
On the 4x400m mixed relay Mary John added: "I wanted a little bit more.
"I think it's always hard not being able to see when someone's coming up on you.
"I gave her (Jæger) a fight and ended up second on the podium with the team."
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