First historic success for Leonardo Fabbri in the Diamond League final in Brussels with the Italian record of 22.98beating Olympic gold medalist Ryan Crouser (22.79). Triumph also for Gianmarco Tamberi: with 2.34 he is still the champion of the Diamond League in the high jump after the victories of the Diamond in 2021 and 2022. To complete the magical blue evening is Larissa Iapichino who wins the Diamond Trophy with 6.80 in the long jump (0.0). He smiles, opens his arms in celebration, receives Crouser’s compliments, runs to hug coach Paolo Dal Soglio, then grabs the Italian flag and puts it around his neck. It’s a memorable evening for Leonardo Fabbri: a blast on his first throw, a blast just shy of the 23 meters he wanted so much and missed by a hair’s breadth, just a step away from Ulf Timmermann’s European record of 23.06. Unfortunately, Paris won’t be erased in an instant, but Leo’s season is still sensational and one day we will realize even better what he has managed to do: tonight’s is the 35th throw of the year over 22 meters, the masterpiece needed to inflict the third defeat in a row in a Diamond League final on the champion Ryan Crouser (22.79) who tonight must surrender to the Florentine from the Air Force and to the ‘fame’ that has remained in him, or rather has grown, after the Olympics.
It is a thrilling exchange with the Ukrainian Oleh Doroshchuk. An identical path until the second attempt at 2.34 (including 2.28 in the second and 2.31 in the first). Everything is decided on the third attempt at the ‘symbolic’ measure of the Diamond finals by Gimbo: the Ukrainian does not detach and abandons the jump, the Italian athlete of the Fiamme Oro makes the bar dance, but it remains up, unleashing the crowd at the Re Baldovino stadium. Completing the splendid Italian night at the Re Baldovino stadium is Larissa Iapichino, returning to competition after the Paris Olympics, capable of jumping 6.80 in the long jump (0.0) and winning the first Diamond Trophy of her career. The most beautiful image is that of Gimbo who, having won his race, rushes to embrace his two Italian teammates who together with him signed the feat. Also noteworthy is the fifth place of Ayomide Folorunso in the 400m hurdles (55.37) and the sixth place of Roberta Bruni in the pole vault (4.55).
After the initial blow, a null arrives, then a 21.98, two more nulls and a 21.86. Third place for the Jamaican Rajindra Campbell (21.95), the American Joe Kovacs retired after the first throw. “I’ve been dreaming of this Diamond all my life – the words of Fabbri, who also wins the 30 thousand dollars of the prize and signs the record of a luxury meeting like the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels – I knew that the only way to beat Crouser would be to shoot everything in the first throw, and so it was. It’s nice to start the preparation again with important stimuli: I know I’m worth the European record but also the world record, and next year I’ll try in every way, with the wonderful people around me everything is possible”. Winning: done. Jumping 2.34 like in the 2021 and 2022 finals: done. Gianmarco Tamberi is the king of the Diamond League for the third time in his career, with the same measure of the first two occasions in Zurich. This is the verdict of the evening in Brussels that, if possible, increases the Olympic regret for Gimbo, who nevertheless appeared serene after the race: “I am much calmer than in Paris even if there is still a bit of regret – the world champion commented – jumping 2.34 with 10 degrees means everything. It is a very strong signal, you can react as I did, you have to do it. I dedicate this victory to all those who were close to me in those days. After the Olympics I did five races, I won four. Let’s start again from here”.