Larissa Iapichino sprinted to gold in the long jump, while the men's 4x400m relay stunned the British in the final to confirm Azzurri dominance at the European Athletics Championships.
Italy's athletics team capped off the European Championships in Birmingham with a historic achievement. The Azzurri finished top of the medal table with a total of 10 golds, 6 silvers, and 6 bronzes, surpassing hosts Great Britain and confirming their status as Europe's strongest athletics nation, ANSA reports.
The final day of competition was opened by Larissa Iapichino in a way that set the tone for the entire evening. The Italian long jumper landed exactly 7 meters on her first attempt, which proved untouchable for the competition on a cold night at Alexander Stadium.
Britain's Jazmin Sawyers stopped at 6.99 meters, while France's Hilary Kpatcha jumped 6.98 meters. German favorite Malaika Mihambo struggled greatly with the wind and her run-up, resulting in a series of fouls. Iapichino thus claimed her first gold at a major international competition.
The crowning moment of the evening came in the final event of the championships. The men's 4x400m relay team of Edoardo Scotti, Luca Sito, Mohamed Soudassi, and Lorenzo Benati won with a time of 2'59''16, leaving hosts Great Britain and Charles Dobson behind in a finish that also decided the medal standings.
The individual splits were impressive: Scotti ran his leg in 45''5, Sito in 44''1, Soudassi in 44''6, and Benati held off the British pressure in the anchor leg with 44''66. In the heats, the Italians set both Italian and championship records with 2'58''10.
This is Italy's first gold in the men's 4x400m relay at the European Championships. Previously, they had won silver in 1950 and 2024, and bronze in 1971. The women's relay team of Alessandra Bonora, Anna Polinari, Alice Mangione, and Eloisa Coiro took bronze, while marathon runners Pietro Riva (individually) and Rebecca Lonedo, Sofiia Yaremchuk, and Giovanna Epis (team) secured silvers.
In the mixed 4x100m relay, the Italians failed to finish due to a botched baton exchange, ANSA reports. Belgium, which had won four of the last six editions of this event, failed to reach the podium this time, and Alexander Doom was not in their lineup.
Italian Athletics Federation President Stefano Mei did not hide his enthusiasm. "This is the strongest expedition of all time, even stronger than the one two years ago," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
Head coach Antonio La Torre was full of praise for his team. "This is the strongest Italy of all time," he said without hesitation. "This expedition is better than the one in Rome. We made almost repeatable what seemed unrepeatable. Competing in a nation with a huge athletics culture and managing to hold off Great Britain to the end is something superlative."
La Torre particularly highlighted how the team coped with Jacobs' injury. "Jacobs' injury could have turned the week in a different direction," he noted. "We immediately regrouped, and the captains gave a boost to the others: within a strong team, everyone feels included and becomes stronger. That must be the spirit for the next two years."
After winning the European title, attention now turns to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. La Torre announced that a performance review will be conducted in a month, but he already sees great potential in the young talents.
"We are lucky: the pressure from new generations also wakes up some who have gotten a bit lazy," he emphasized. "The goal is to bring a lot of strength, energy, and young talent to the Olympics. Next year, Kelly Doualla will start doing 'big-time' athletics. We'll have a family derby in the long jump with the Inzolis, along with Furlani's return."
The Italian athletes celebrated to the tune of "It's coming home," sarcastically alluding to the English football slogan, adding extra spice to their victory over the hosts on their own turf.
