With winter approaching, Charlotte Henrich can look back on another superb summer season.

Canterbury-based Henrich’s career continues to go from strength-to-strength after she became a 400m European Championship under-20 gold medallist in Tampere, Finland, in early August to round off her 2025 campaign.

“It's just been incredible,” she said.

“At the start of this winter, I got a couple of injuries - and I’m quite dramatic - so I was like ‘Oh my God, this is the end and I’m never going to run again!’. So, it was really nice to come out the other side of that.

“I’ve done a couple races in Germany, it’s been my first year where a lot of my races have been abroad, and it was going well.

“But the aim was always the under-20 Euros. That’s what we were thinking about the whole year.

“There were some very fast girls from Germany and Poland, and it was very fast, so I was looking at it thinking ‘Oh, okay.’. I just followed the plan and kept running - and then I won the Euros!

“I’m so lucky and so grateful.

“It's something I’ve wanted for such a long time and, for it to happen, it’s a dream come true.”

Henrich, who helped Great Britain win World Championship under-20 4x400m bronze in Peru last year and took home a brace of silvers from the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Caribbean, enjoyed her time in Tampere.

Now coached by Nigel Stickings, the 19-year-old said: “I loved Finland.

“I thought it was the happiest country in the world! I really liked it and it’s up there with my favourite countries.

“The year before that, I went to Peru, and I’ve been to Trinidad & Tobago, which is my all-time favourite trip.

“I was there for two weeks and that was just amazing, and there’s been lots of trips to Germany, as well.”

Henrich won her gold in 51.68sec and, while she beat second-placed German athlete Johanna Martin (52.00), the pair are still good friends off the track.

“We’ve been racing against each other for about four years,” she said.

“We text each other and stuff, and it’s so nice to have those friendships.

“I really like it that way because then, when you’re on the start line, okay it’s scary - don't get me wrong, I was terrified - but it just makes it feel that bit better.

“You know it’s just running in a circle with your friends. It’s fine.

“Then the whole [GB] team, I’ve known for such a long time and I’ve been on such amazing trips with them, that it’s just like a little bit of a reunion, as well.

“That helps with the nerves.”

Remarkably, French-born Henrich, who represents both Canterbury’s Invicta East Kent AC and Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC, only took up running a matter of years ago after she moved to the UK, aged five.

She recalled: “I did my first 400m race in 2022 and then, literally a few weeks after that, I went to the under-18 Europeans and I won that, which was incredible.

“But then the year after, I didn’t PB, so I was thinking ‘Oh no, was that just like the highlight of my career and then is it just going to be downhill from there?’. Then, I changed coaches.

“I’m with such a great group in Bromley. Last year, I just had to run a big PB and then, this year, I’ve run an even bigger PB.

“I've got such a good team around me that it’s just been so easy to keep going and enjoy it.”

The former Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School pupil is training full-time at Blackheath & Bromley Harriers these days.

“I left sixth form last year and I’m currently training full-time,” she said. “I train in Bromley and I live in Canterbury so it’s quite a long commute, but it’s so worth it.

“I go up there four times a week and I do Pilates in Canterbury, at Kesson Studios, which has been so good for me and my injuries.

“Then, I gym, as well, and I’m just training full-time and absolutely loving it.

“I can’t believe this is my life. It’s such a dream and I’m living a dream.”

Henrich’s rapid rise has caught the eye of sportswear giants Adidas, too, who sponsor her.

She said: “It’s just insane.

“When I say ‘I’m sponsored by Adidas’, everyone’s like ‘What?!’. I can’t believe it, either!”

But while Henrich trains slightly further north, Invicta East Kent remain her first-claim club and she’s thrilled to see other young athletes also shining.

She said: “They helped me so much in the early stages of your career.

“Then, you move on to other coaches around England.

“Matthew Stonier (Invicta East Kent’s England international) trains at Loughborough but I saw him recently at a competition.

“It’s just so nice to see people have had that progression. They’re just from the same area as me, and they know the same people, and they’ve been supported by the same people.

“Seeing them do well, it’s lovely.”

The next steps for Henrich will be into under-23 events and, ultimately, to compete in senior competitions, something - if her display in Finland is anything to go by - she’s certainly capable of doing.

“It’s good to know that I can compete when I have lots of pressure on my back,” said Henrich, who not only belies her years with her times, but speaks eloquently for her years.

“I really wanted to win on the under-20s, I’ve never wanted anything more.

“To know that I can go out there, run a PB, and just run my best race this year, under lots of pressure, that’s really reassuring.

“I ran the London Diamond League in front of - I don't know how many people - but it was a whole lot of people!

“I can perform when I have pressure on me so that’s good to know.”

Henrich was unable to attempt to qualify for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in mid-September.

She noted: “I couldn’t get picked for the Worlds because I didn’t go to World Trials because it was a couple of days before the Euros.

“That was a bit gutting but I’m still so happy with my season.

“I can’t be sad about that.”