Gold, best world performance of the year and Italian record, 14 centimeters from the world record: Andy Diaz is the new European triple jump champion with 18.15 metres. Bronze medal for Andrea Dallavalle with 17.37, silver for the third consecutive continental podium for the Portuguese Pedro Pichardo who with 17.76 had closed the first series of jumps in first place before being overtaken by Diaz’s great jump. For the 30-year-old Cuban naturalized Italian triple jumper, the appointment with the now historic world record of 18.29 set by the British Jonathan Edwards (7 August 1995 in Goeteborg) has only been postponed. For Italy, Diaz’s is the third gold medal on this August day after those of Massimo Stano and Sofia Fiorini in the walking marathon.
Mid-August 2026 will in fact remain a magical, historic day for Italian athletics because never in the history of the European Championships – first edition in Turin 1936 – had Italy won seven medals in a single day of competition. The previous record was six podiums on 8 June 2024 in Rome. Thanks to the three golds, Diaz in the triple, Stano and Fiorini in the walking marathon, but also to Alexandrina Mihai (silver), Francesco Fortunato (silver) and Andrea Cosi (bronze) in the walking half marathon.
Before Birmingham only two Italians had reached the podium in the triple jump at the European Championships, Fabrizio Donato, Diaz’s coach, gold in Helsinki 2012 in the year of the Olympic bronze in London, and Andrea Dallavalle, silver in Munich 2022.
That of Diaz, standard bearer of the Fiamme Gialle, was an announced gold. After the null on the first jump, Andy placed the record size on the second jump, clearing the Portuguese Pichardo by 29 centimetres. In Andy’s series also a 17.78 in the third, two nulls and a “passed” jump (the fourth). Dallavalle, also from Piacenza of the Fiamme Gialle, already at the opening of the final achieved the best measurement, 17.37 which was followed by two zeros, 17.16 and 16.83, before the final thrill when the Frenchman Thomas Gogois reached 17.21. Andy Diaz, 30 years old who jumps with braids, Cuban sangre from Havana and has always been in love with Italy, the country where he found his first landing place when he escaped from Cuba, since he became blue he has always hit the mark in big events. Only once, in September last year, did he fail to reach the podium, sixth at the World Championships. In August two years ago, a few days after receiving sporting citizenship, he won the Olympic bronze in Paris.
In March 2025 he took the European indoor gold and then the world gold around his neck. Twelve months later he repeated the world title. In between victories in the Diamond League (Zurich 2025 and Rome 2026), the ‘diamantè’ of the triple in 2025 and the Italian record a few weeks ago at the Assoluti in Florence, 17.87.
At the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on a decidedly cool evening and with a breeze that was behind the treble platform, the flight went up to surpass the 18 meter wall by fifteen centimeters and leapt to fourth place in the all-time world rankings. Head of the list is Edwards with 18.29 followed by the American Christian Taylor who won the world gold on 27 August eleven years ago with 18.21 and by the Spaniard Jordan Diaz Fortun who landed at 18.18 at the Olimpico in Rome on 11 June two years ago. (AGI)
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Podium missed by Yeman Crippa in the 10,000 meters won by the Swede Andreas Almgren in 27’23″44, a new championship record. For the Italian, returning to the 10,000 three years after the last race, 28’08″56, 66 hundredths of a second from the bronze which went to the Frenchman Jimmy Gressier. An evening to forget for the Italian fast relays. The men’s 4x100m, which until the last changeover was fighting for the podium, first had to experience the drama of Samuele Ceccarelli’s leg injury which put an end to his chances of a medal, and then the disqualification because the former European indoor 60m champion did not cross the finish line with the baton. Fourth place for the Italians: Zaynab Dosso, Gloria Hooper, Dalia Kaddari and Alessia Pavese finished in 43″21, six hundredths behind Poland, bronze. Double gold for Great Britain in both the men’s and women’s categories.