Former Cambridge University student Amy Hunt wins Great Britain second medal at World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with silver in women’s 200m final

Former Cambridge University student Amy Hunt burst into tears immediately after blazing to a brilliant silver medal in the 200m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

It was Great Britain’s second podium of the championships, achieved in 22.14 seconds behind the United States’ Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, already the 100m champion in Japan, who crossed the line in 21.68s.

A beaming Hunt told the BBC: “I have not stopped smiling or crying! As soon as I saw my mum, I burst into tears.

“I knew I could do it – as long as I put in a good turn and was with them off the bend. I am so proud of myself. I just beat some amazing girls and I can’t believe it.

“Moments before the race, I just thought of my Grandad. I knew he was watching over me, I knew he was going to guide me. I have a tatoo of his name on my arm.”

Meanwhile, reflecting on her journey to glory via studying at Corpus Christi College, Hunt added: “I’m so proud of myself for choosing that harder path. I could have chosen an easier way out, many, many times.

“I chose to go to Cambridge to get a degree in part for myself to look back and be proud of but also in part to show other young sportspeople, other young girls, you don’t have to give up education. You can be an academic badass and a track goddess.

“I’m showing that you can do everything. Anything you set your mind to, you can be the best at everything.”