Medal at last is only sweet for Jenny Meadows

It was not quite the golden moment Jenny Meadows had in mind for 2012 but it was sweet reward nonetheless. Overlooked for home Olympic selection because of an Achilles tendon problem that required surgery in Stockholm in midweek, the 31-year-old Wigan athlete was on crutches at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham yesterday as she was publicly proclaimed the European indoor 800m champion.

It was announced in June, on the day she was omitted from the Olympic team, that Meadows had been upgraded from runner-up to winner of the 800m at the European Indoor Championships in Paris in March last year following the suspension of Yevgenia Zinurova for doping violations. Officials, however, have been unable to acquire the gold medal from Russia.

Instead, there was a treat from Meadows's husband and coach, Trevor Painter. "I'd heard they were struggling to get the medal so I've brought one of those chocolate ones," he told the Aviva Grand Prix crowd.