30 blues for the World Relays

30 blue athletes called up for the World Relays, the event that qualifies 12 out of 16 relays for the 2027 World Championships in Beijing. Present are the world champion of the 60 Dosso and the Olympic gold medalist from Tokyo Desalu

On May 2 and 3, 2026, in Gaborone (Botswana), the World Relays will take place, the event dedicated to relays that will determine the qualification for the World Championships in Beijing next year. For this occasion, the technical director of the national teams, Antonio La Torre, has announced the list of 30 selected athletes.

There are 13 men and 17 women to complete the five blue relays that will participate in the event (4×100 men, women, mixed, 4×400 women and mixed). 

A mix of promising young talents and more experienced champions, starting with the world champion of the indoor 60 Zaynab Dosso, recently triumphant in Torun, after becoming the first Italian under seven seconds (6.99). Among the men called up is the Olympic relay champion from Tokyo Fausto Desalu and the silver medalist in the 100 meters from the Rome Europeans Chituru Ali.

This will also be a way to test the new talents and promote generational change, especially considering some absences. Here is the first call-up for the young Diego Nappi, Eduardo Longobardi, Elisa Valensin, Margherita Castellani.

From the World Relays, twelve out of sixteen relays in each event qualify for Beijing 2027 (the other four will qualify through the top lists of 2027). In the case of the mixed 4x100m and mixed 4x400m, Gaborone is also a possible pathway to the unprecedented World Athletics event, the Ultimate Championship, scheduled in Budapest in September: a direct pass is expected for six relays in Botswana, but two more can achieve it during the season thanks to the best times from the 2026 top lists. 

The Italian team

MEN

4×100 and medley

4×400 mixed

WOMEN 

4×100 and medley

4×400 and mixed

THE WORLD ATHLETICS PAGE OF THE EVENT

Photo Credits: Grana/Fidal