Audrey Werro: From modest goals to one of fastest 800m runners in history
Just a few months ago Werro had no idea her 2026 would pan out like this.
She began the season with modest ambitions of a podium at her continental championships – but how those objectives have changed.
“My goal for this season was to have a medal at the European Championships and I was not sure whether it was the gold medal I wanted or the bronze or silver; it was just to have a podium,” she admitted after her race.
Now she has three of the fastest 800m times in history, three victories at some of the most prestigious athletics events of the year and a burgeoning reputation as arguably the strongest two-lap runner of her generation.
While her progress has exceeded what she thought was possible, she has proven to herself that she is able to consistently raise her game.
“I think (breaking the 1:54 mark) gave me a lot of confidence because I know that I can be faster in every race, because I just ran 1:53 one time, so I can do that another time,” she said.
“I’m just happy I could run multiple times in a fast time. I think now it’s just easier to go back in training and to improve, because it was not just a lucky day.”
She also credits her rivalry with the likes of Hodgkinson and Bol as a reason for her consistency this year.
“I think it pushed me a lot because I know I have to stay focused and continue working because they are as strong as me, I think,” she explained. “So I can’t just rest on everything I already achieved and I need to continue working in order to continue to be the best.”
A shift to becoming a full-time professional athlete has played its part in her rise, as has another year of training for a 22-year-old who is still a relative youngster in her sport.
But even so, the improvement in her performances have been wilder than the dreams she held even as a child. When Olympics.com asked her whether she now pinches herself when thinking about her achievements, Werro’s response was clear.
“Every day I think of that,” she answered. “And this is really crazy, because when I was little I was not expecting to be one of the best athletes in the 800. So every day I think of that and that just makes me so happy.”
The race for the world record will continue next year, with the World Athletics Championships in Beijing the next major global championships on the calendar before the Olympic Games LA28.