Italian
Italy concludes the Athletics World Championships with three gold medals and two silvers in the long jump, securing third place in the medal table and achieving the best result in history
TORUN (POLAND) – There were high expectations for the Italian team at the Indoor Athletics World Championships taking place this weekend in Torun, Poland. But the reality was even better than dreams. Three incredible gold medals, a first-time achievement, and five total medals thanks to two silvers in the long jump.
Third place in the medal table behind the powerhouse USA which brought home 18 medals (5 gold, 7 silver, and 6 bronze) and only surpassed at the last moment by Great Britain which managed to win three of its four golds in half an hour. Three records, never had the Azzurri won so much nor had they reached such heights.
In 2i editions of the World Championships, our best performance was in 1991 with four medals (one silver and three bronzes) and in 2024 with two silvers and two bronzes. Not to mention the record of three golds, with the blues managing to achieve two outdoors in 1987, 1995, and 1999, and indoors last year in Nanjing with Diaz and Furlani. An edition that also saw the best placement so far with the fifth place.
The fifth position of the Italians in the points ranking with 49 points is also excellent, approaching the record of third place with 50 points achieved in 2024, behind the USA (164), Poland (58), Netherlands (54), and Jamaica (52). There are eleven “finalists” (understood as placements in the top eight positions that make up the points ranking) with Riva, Dallavalle, Fabbri, Gerevini, Simonelli, and the 800-meter runner Coiro, who entered the best eight times despite not having actually run the final (according to regulations, only 6 athletes).
An unimaginable result just a couple of years ago, and yet now it is a reality. Thanks to the thirty-year-old Andy Diaz who won gold in the triple jump for the second consecutive time, and to four fierce twenty-somethings who, despite their young age, are racking up medals in every competition.
The medals
The twenty-five-year-old Nadia Battocletti won gold in her first race over three thousand meters, the twenty-six-year-old Zaynab Dosso finally took gold (after a silver and a bronze) in the 60 meters against Olympic champion Julien Alfred. All this happened just a few minutes apart, with the Italian captain running to congratulate the fastest woman in the world, still emotional after singing the anthem during the award ceremony for the athlete from Trento. We also add the sixteen-year-old Kelly Doualla, in her first international experience with the seniors and capable of reaching a historic semifinal.
Finally, the two certainties of the long jump. Sunday morning opens with the silver of twenty-three-year-old Larissa Iapichino, at her first world medal. Finally, someone who at twenty-one has practically collected medals in all major international competitions, bringing home his second World silver after that of Glasgow 2024, which adds to the double gold from last season between Indoor and Outdoor World Championships. Without forgetting, of course, the Olympic bronze from Paris.
Obviously, we are talking about that phenomenon of Mattia Furlani, who achieved his seventh consecutive international podium. But yesterday, more than ever, the result was not taken for granted, given the stomach issues he had during the night. The Italian still matches his personal best of 8.39 and finishes behind the Portuguese Gerson Baldé, a true surprise of these Championships.
The President of Fidal Stefano Mei is now rightly asking for more indoor facilities to finally allow our young athletes to train in better conditions. Who knows, given the excellent results, the tide may finally change for athletics as well. Champions also need the right means to thrive.
Photo Credits: Grana/Fidal
