European Indoor Championships, Mattia Furlani silver in long jump just an inch from gold
European indoors, Mattia Furlani silver in the long one inch from gold
One centimeter from gold. One centimeter è that separated Mattia Furlani from Bulgarian Bozhidar Saraboyukov on the long track at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. The 20-year-old Italian, a star of Italian athletics with the signs of predestined, jumped a decent 8.12, well below his own potential, which è was surpassed by Saraboyukov's 8.13. The Bulgarian, an old acquaintance of Furlani as his historical opponent in the youth sector, pulled the rabbit out of his hat on his last attempt with a measure worth the continental title.
Disappointed Furlani who calls his "a freaking competition". "I feel a mix of flavors becauseé I am sorry – he admits on the sidelines to Rai microphones – I could have aspired to something moreù. I am angry mostly with me. The plans are long-term. There are four years: you have to get to Los Angeles. Better to change my run-up now. It's still an international medal. I have had my problems that are being worked on. With 8.12 I warm up to it…. C'è I have it with myself", concludes the boy born on the outskirts of Rome.
At only 20 years old, Furlani already has a palmarès "important": Olympic bronze in Paris 2024, silver at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow 2024, silver at the Europeans in Rome 2024 and now the continental 2025 indoor one in the Netherlands. In Apeldoorn Furlani è arrived with the weight of one who must confirm himself. A test that the 20-year-old born on the outskirts of Rome nevertheless passed and, as he himself says, bodes well for the next appointments starting soon with the World Indoor Championships.
Italy thus won its first medal in the Dutch continental competition. From the beautiful arena in Apeldoorn come more confirmations for the Italian team. The splendid and partly unexpected qualification of Alice Mangione for the 400-meter final stands out: with a test of remarkable tactical intelligence (52.67 in a comeback), she gained access to the continental final on Saturday night.
In the morning of the Euroindoors, dedicated to the qualifying rounds, è sprinted to the finals in the long Larissa Iapichino, capable, in a highly qualified context, of a 6.76 that promotes her directly to the round for the podium. More jumps: Andrea Dallavalle (16.87), and Andy Diaz (16.74) spend one jump for admission to tomorrow night's triple jump final. Promotion to the semifinals for octocenters Catalin Tecuceanu (1:48.10) and Eloisa Coiro (2:04.09). In the 60hs semifinals, end of the race for Giada Carmassi (8.04), Elisa Di Lazzaro (8.05) and Lorenzo Simonelli (7.60 and first of the excluded).
