European Championships: Nielsen aims for breakthrough medal

Laviai Nielsen continues to go from strength to strength in 2024.

The 28-year-old lowered her personal best by 0.10 to 50.73 to qualify fourth-fastest for tonight’s women’s 400m final, and will hope for another big performance as she chases her first major individual medal on the international stage.

She and sister Lina, who both live with the neurological auto-immune disease multiple sclerosis, were part of Britain’s women’s 4x400m relay bronze medal-winning quartet at the World Indoor Championships in March, as they finally achieved their lifelong dream of representing their country together on an emotional night.

But Laviai narrowly missed out on an individual podium in Glasgow, finishing fourth in the final – despite running a personal best.

Having watched Lina qualify for the 400m hurdles final earlier today, Nielsen – with eight senior international relay medals to her name – will be desperate to end that wait for individual success this evening.