Newly crowned European double-sprint champion Amy Hunt has disclosed how an unexplained blood pressure problem resulted in medical test results so alarming that her sister, a nurse, claimed she would have “pressed the button on the ward”.
The 24-year-old world 200m silver medallist is aiming to secure four gold medals at the European Athletics Championships. Having swept her individual events by following her 100m victory with Thursday night’s 200m triumph in Birmingham, she is now halfway towards her target.
The unapologetic show-woman has spent two nights turning the Alexander Stadium into her personal stage, effortlessly stepping into the spotlight. Yet a look behind the scenes makes what she has accomplished this week appear even more remarkable.
Hunt said: “People probably don’t know, but after London Diamond League (in July), I had to be taken off to the medical room, I was kind of on the floor on the verge of fainting.
“We had to do a lot of medical tests, I’ve had a lot of scary heart tests and stuff and a lot of stuff going on this year, so I felt like we haven’t been able to touch anywhere near my potential in the 200m.
“That’s probably why the hundred has been going a lot better because we’ve been able to do the speed work, but not so much the endurance work.
“I’m so proud of the semi because I was slightly, kind of almost scared coming back into doing the 200m after London.”
While doctors managing Hunt’s care have identified the problem as low blood pressure, they remain uncertain about its root cause.
“They have no idea,” Hunt added. “But my sister’s a nurse and she said ‘if you had that blood pressure on the ward, I’d be really worried about you. I’d be kind of pressing the bell’.
“Luckily I have such an incredible coaching staff and family. My mum and my sister are flying back and forth from Italy and going back and forth from London taking care of me, so it’s been such a big family effort.”
She must now check her blood pressure every day during training “like an old lady”, aided by salty electrolytes supplied by her supplement sponsors. She is also applying cold towels and consciously remaining active between training reps.
Two-time European women’s 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith – whose British records are surely among her rival’s ambitions – crossed the line one tenth of a second behind Hunt, who might consider a future career as a psychic.
Hunt added: “(The semi-final) kind of dispelled all my worries and then I woke up with just such an utter kind of feeling of calm; I felt so peaceful and tranquil.
“Because the same as the 100m, I had such an overwhelming premonition that today was going to be my day. I could feel it when I walked out tonight in the air and I knew it didn’t matter what anyone else was going to run, that I was always going to win.”
