Amy Hunt has revealed a mysterious blood pressure issue triggered test results so alarming even her own nurse sister said she would have “pressed the button on the ward” for the newly-coronated European double-sprint champion.
The 24-year-old world 200m silver medallist wants four gold medals from the European Athletics Championships and has dominated both of her individual events, following her 100m success with Thursday night’s 200m win in Birmingham, to drive herself halfway to that target.
The unapologetic show-woman has, for two nights now, re-cast the Alexander Stadium as her stage and effortlessly embraced the spotlight, but a peek behind the curtain makes what Hunt has accomplished this week even more impressive.
Hunt, who was awarded a bye to the semi-finals, 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.”
Hunt’s medical team have determined it was a low blood pressure issue, but remain uncertain about the 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.”
Hunt now has to take her blood pressure every day at training, “like an old lady”, and her supplement company sponsors have supplied her with plenty of salty electrolytes.
She is also using cold towels and consciously keeping active between reps.
Two-time women’s 200m European champion Dina Asher-Smith – whose British records are no doubt included in her rival’s targets – finished one tenth of a second behind Hunt, who may want to consider a second 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.”
