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Italy Dominates European Athletics Championships with Gold in 4x400m Relay and Long Jump

From ANSA · () Italian

Translated from Italian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Italy topped the European Athletics Championships medal table, securing gold in the men's 4x400m relay and the women's long jump.
  • Larissa Iapichino won the long jump with a leap of 7 meters on her first attempt, narrowly beating Great Britain's Jazmin Sawyers.
  • The men's 4x400m relay team secured gold in the final race, edging out the home team, Great Britain, while the women's 4x400m team took bronze.

Italy concluded its triumphant European Athletics Championships campaign by topping the final medal standings. The nation's success was highlighted by a decisive gold medal in the women's long jump and a dramatic victory in the men's 4x400m relay.

It's the strongest Italy ever.

— Antonio La TorreThe national director of athletics commenting on the team's performance at the European Championships.

Larissa Iapichino set the tone early in the evening session with a precise performance in the long jump. Her opening leap of 7 meters was enough to secure the gold medal, despite challenging windy conditions and the cold that affected all competitors. She narrowly edged out Great Britain's Jazmin Sawyers, who jumped 6.99 meters, and France's Hilary Kpatcha at 6.98 meters. This victory marks a significant achievement for the Italian athlete on the international stage.

This expedition is better than Rome. We have made almost repeatable what seemed unrepeatable.

— Antonio La TorreLa Torre comparing the current championships to a previous successful event.

The men's 4x400m relay team delivered a thrilling finale, clinching the gold medal in the very last race of the championships. Edoardo Scotti, Luca Sito, Mohamed Soudassi, and Lorenzo Benati held off a strong challenge from the host nation, Great Britain, to secure their victory. Earlier in the day, Italy also earned silver medals in the marathon, with Pietro Riva taking second place individually and the women's team securing second in the team classification. The women's 4x400m relay team, featuring Alessandra Bonora, Anna Polinari, Alice Mangione, and Eloisa Coiro, added a bronze medal to Italy's tally.

Competing in a nation that has immense culture, and managing to keep pace with Great Britain until the end, is something superlative.

— Antonio La TorreLa Torre reflecting on the competitive environment and the team's success against Great Britain.

National director Antonio La Torre expressed immense pride in the team's performance, declaring it "the strongest Italy ever." He noted that this success, achieved while competing in a nation with a rich athletics culture and against strong rivals like Great Britain, provides a significant boost for future competitions, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. La Torre acknowledged that the injury to sprinter Jacobs could have impacted the team's morale, but emphasized the unity and determination shown by the athletes.

From this expedition, a great push is born for the next two years: Los Angeles 2028 destination.

— Antonio La TorreLa Torre looking ahead to future athletic goals.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ANSA in Italian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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