Nadia Battocletti drops encore: historic bronze in the 5,000

Nadia Battocletti signs a new feat by winning a historic bronze in the 5,000 at the World Championships in Tokyo a week after the silver she got in the 10,000 meters. The Trento-born star enters the legend because she becomes the first Italian woman to drop an encore in the rainbow events: only Pietro Mennea (silver 4×100 and bronze 200 in 1983) and Francesco Panetta (gold 3000 steeplechase and silver 10,000 in 1987) had managed it. It also gives Italy the record number of medals in a World Championships: 7.

The Azzurra takes a magnificent third place in 14:55.42 with another thrilling race behind the phenomenal Kenyans: world record holder Beatrice Chebet (14:54.36) wins, completing the double gold as at last season’s Olympics, silver for defending champion Faith Kipyegon (14:55.07) four days after her success in the 1500 meters.

“I told myself it was the day to try to dare – said Nadia Battocletti after the bronze – and I am very happy and proud of myself. The idea popped up on the eve together with dad-coach Giuliano: I thought that maybe in the 10,000 I had lost that moment, although it probably would not have changed the outcome of the race, which made me realize that I had to try. The tactics of the Americans, long in the lead, made it easier for me, and with 600 meters to go when I saw the Africans coming up I immediately took the lead”.

“To find myself in front on the last lap was exciting, at the two hundred we were a quartet and I thought that anyway I couldn&#8217t risk too much, you also have to be shrewd and I let them pass, trying to shift up a gear in the final. In my mind I had Ezio Bosso’s ‘Rain, in your black eyes,’ a melody that picks up the pace in the last few minutes. I had come here to show myself that I was doing well, that training sooner or later pays off, and now I’m picking up a lot. I like to be in this position, I like the comparison and competitiveness with the best in the world, but before and after the race there is a lot of respect: this is what I have always liked about athletics and what has led me to continue” closed Battocletti.