Czechia’s Lurdes Gloria Manuel became the youngest ever winner of the women’s 400m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, claiming gold in Kujawy Pomorze on Saturday (21).
The 20-year-old’s victory also marked the first senior international title of her career.
Long regarded as a standout prospect, Manuel won both world and European U20 titles, but her progress was disrupted by injury last year.
Now training under Laurent Meuwly alongside a formidable group—including world indoor 400m record holder Femke Bol, European indoor champion Lieke Klaver and world 400m hurdles bronze medallist Emma Zapletalová—she looks poised to establish herself among the sport’s elite.
Composed run secures gold
Racing in the second of the two co-finals, Manuel held off Norway’s European U23 champion Henriette Jaeger to take the lead at the bell.
She then showed impressive composure down the home straight, maintaining her form to win in 50.76 as Jaeger’s challenge faded.
In the first co-final, Poland’s European champion Natalia Bukowiecka delighted the home crowd by overtaking Klaver to win in 50.83, finishing 0.19 ahead of the Dutch athlete.
That performance secured silver for Bukowiecka and bronze for Klaver, behind Manuel’s breakthrough victory.