The European Championships in Rome concluded with thrilling performances and record-breaking feats, leaving spectators in awe of the athletic prowess on display. The final nights of the championships were particularly memorable, marked by standout achievements across various disciplines.
Mihambo’s Magnificent Leap
Germany’s Malaika Mihambo stole the show on the final night with a world-leading jump of 7.22m in the women’s long jump, securing her third European title. Mihambo, the reigning Olympic champion, set the tone with an opening jump of 6.70m before sealing her victory in the second round despite a challenging headwind. Italy’s Larissa Iapichino and Portugal’s Agate De Sousa claimed silver and bronze with leaps of 6.94m and 6.91m, respectively.
Reflecting on her performance, Mihambo said, “The 7.22m was close to a perfect jump, I hit the board well but the headwind was disturbing so the result could have been even better. I knew that I had not yet shown what I had in my training. Now the most important thing is to stay healthy.”
Diaz Fortun’s Triple Jump Triumph
Spain’s Jordan Alejandro Diaz Fortun delivered a historic performance in the men’s triple jump, leaping to 18.18m to claim gold and register the third-longest jump in history. His record-breaking effort came during an intense competition with Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo, who also exceeded the 18-meter mark with a national record of 18.04m. Diaz Fortun’s leap places him behind only Jonathan Edwards and Christian Taylor on the all-time list.
“I did not really expect this, but the goal is always to keep improving,” Diaz Fortun remarked. “Seeing Pichardo jumping 18 was a motivation to jump even farther because nobody came to these championships to finish second or third.”
Ingebrigtsen’s 1500m Domination
Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen showcased his dominance in the men’s 1500m, executing a strategic race to clinch his second gold of the championships and become the most successful male athlete in the event’s history at just 23 years old. Ingebrigtsen’s blistering final lap of 53.34 seconds secured his victory with a time of 3:33.14, ahead of Belgium’s Jochem Vermeulen (3:33.30) and Italy’s Pietro Arese (3:33.34).
“I am definitely satisfied with this championship,” Ingebrigtsen commented. “I might not have had too many races going into this but now I have got good answers. When I went in the last 200m, I felt very good.”
Duplantis Flirts with World Record
Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis thrilled the crowd with an attempt at a new world record in the men’s pole vault. After securing his third outdoor European title with a clearance of 6.10m, Duplantis made three attempts at 6.25m, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats late into the night. Although he did not succeed, his performance reaffirmed his status as a dominant force in pole vaulting. Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis and Turkey’s Ersu Sasma took silver and bronze with heights of 5.87m and 5.82m, respectively.
“The main goal was to go out there and to win, take home my third gold,” Duplantis said. “I’m very satisfied with the height, I did not really think I was attempting the world record today. After the 6.10m, there was just too much energy there.”
Lobalu’s Emotional 10,000m Victory
Switzerland’s Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu emerged victorious in the men’s 10,000m, clocking 28:00.32 in a closely contested race. France’s Yann Schrub and Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo took silver and bronze, finishing in 28:00.48 and 28:00.96, respectively.
“This result is very important not only for me but for my whole country, I am feeling very emotional at this moment,” said Lobalu.
Vadlejch’s Last-Throw Heroics in Javelin
Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch clinched gold in the men’s javelin with a throw of 88.65m, achieved on his final attempt. Germany’s Julian Weber (85.94m) and Finland’s Oliver Helander (85.75m) completed the podium.
“My dreams came true today,” Vadlejch exclaimed. “I suffered quite a lot during the whole competition. I knew I was in shape but it just did not click.”
Relay Drama and Record-Breaking Runs
The relay events provided a fitting conclusion to the championships, with dramatic finishes and record-breaking performances. The Dutch women’s 4x400m team, featuring Lieke Klaver, Cathelijn Peeters, Lisanne de Witte, and Femke Bol, secured victory in 3:22.39. Ireland set a national record to take silver in 3:22.71, while Belgium earned bronze in 3:22.95.
In the men’s 4x400m, Belgium, anchored by individual 400m champion Alexander Doom, won gold with a time of 2:59.84. Italy and Germany followed closely, finishing in 3:00.81 and 3:00.82, respectively.
The British women’s 4x100m team, comprising Dina Asher-Smith, Desiree Henry, Amy Hunt, and Daryll Neita, powered to victory in 41.91, with France (42.15) and the Netherlands (42.46) taking silver and bronze. Italy’s men’s 4x100m team, featuring Matteo Melluzzo, Marcell Jacobs, Lorenzo Patta, and Filippo Tortu, delighted the home crowd by winning gold in 37.82, ahead of the Netherlands (38.46) and Germany (38.52).
Conclusion
The European Championships in Rome delivered a week of unforgettable athletics, with athletes pushing boundaries and setting new standards of excellence. From Malaika Mihambo’s extraordinary long jump to Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s historic 1500m win, the championships showcased the very best of European athletics.
