- High jumper Gianmarco Tamberi and long-distance runner Nadja Battocletti secured two more gold medals for Italy at the home European Championships.
- The two big favorites, Karsten Warholm (NOR) and Femke Bol (NED), triumphed in the 400 m hurdles.
- Mujinga Kambundji defends her European title over 200 m.
Men’s high jump: Tamberi’s show for the history books
It was an incredible show that Gianmarco Tamberi offered the home crowd in Rome’s Olympic Stadium. There was his physical appearance with his half-shaven face. There was the height of 2.29 m, which the Olympic champion only managed to clear on his third attempt and with his back to the wall. This was followed by 2.31 m, which Tamberi cleared on his first attempt and thus secured gold.
But the 32-year-old wasn’t thinking about giving up yet. After two failed attempts at 2.33 m, he had the bar set at 2.34 m – and cleared it on the first attempt. Tamberi celebrated, pulled springs out of his spare shoes and got the atmosphere in the large arena boiling. As a bonus, he finally cleared 2.37 m and set a European Championship record in the process.
Behind Tamberi, the two Ukrainians Wladyslaw Lawskyj (2.29 m) and Oleh Doroshchuk (2.26 m) took silver and bronze.
400 m hurdles men: Warholm in 3rd place – Sibilio surprises
Karsten Warholm lived up to his role as favorite in the 400 m hurdles. The Norwegian dominated the race from start to finish and won in 46.98 seconds. It was the 28-year-old world record holder’s third European title in a row. Alessandro Sibilio surprised and delighted the home crowd. The second-placed Italian set a new national record in 47.50 s. Carl Bengtström (SWE) in third place (47.94 s) also completed the podium with a national record.
400 m hurdles women: Bol dominates with European Championship record
The European title in the women’s 400 m hurdles also went to the big favorite and defending champion. Dutchwoman Femke Bol ran a lonely race and won with a record lead of 1.74 seconds ahead of Louise Maraval (FRA) and 1.88 seconds ahead of fellow countrywoman Cathelijn Peeters. Bol set a new European Championship record of 52.49 seconds.
10’000 m women: Battocletti achieves the double
As in the 5000 m, the victory went to local Nadja Battocletti. Four days ago, the Italian made the difference on the finishing straight, but now she left all her pursuers behind shortly after the final lap bell rang. The Italian had a lead of just under six seconds over second-placed Diane van Es (NED). Third place went to Briton Megan Keith. Battocletti set a new national record in 30:51.32 minutes.
Men’s triple jump: Gold goes to Spaniard Diaz Fortun
In the battle for gold, Spaniard Jordan Alejandro Diaz Fortun fought a world-class duel with Portuguese defending champion Pedro Pichardo, who had set a championship record of 18.04 m in his second attempt. But the Iberian countered fantastically with 18.18 m, the third best distance in history. Only world record holder Jonathan Edwards (1995/18.29) and American Christian Taylor (2015/18.21) have ever jumped further. Bronze went to Frenchman Thomas Gogois with 17.38 m.
Women’s javelin: Austrian Hudson outshines all
Victoria Hudson’s first throw of 64.62 m was a real stumbling block for all her competitors. The Austrian was not caught until the end and celebrated her European Championship gold. Behind Hudson, Serbian Adriana Vilagos (64.42) took silver, while Norwegian Marie-Therese Obst (63.50) took bronze.