European Athletics Championships, Race Walking Gold: Triumphs for Stano and Fiorini, Three More Medals for Italy
Italy is dominating the race walking events at the European Athletics Championships currently underway in Paris. On the morning of August 15, the Italian team swept the board in the French capital, winning two gold medals in the men’s and women’s marathon walks and claiming three more medals in the half marathon.
Massimo Stano won the gold medal in the men’s marathon, finishing with a time of 2:56:49—a new European record—ahead of Spain’s Lopez, who trailed by eight seconds. The bronze medal went to France’s Quinion, who nearly strayed off course in the final stretch, completely exhausted. “I’m overjoyed because I usually can’t get myself fired up at the European Championships the way I do at world-level events. But this European Championship was different for me, partly because Rome has left a lasting impression on me. I came to Birmingham with the goal of winning the third gold medal I was missing,” he said after the race.
Shortly after Stano’s victory came the triumph of the magnificent Sofia Fiorini, who dominated the women’s race walk marathon. The incredible 21-year-old shattered the world record by a full nine minutes, finishing with a time of 3:15:11. Behind her, more than four minutes back, was Poland’s Zdzieblo, followed by Spain’s Raquel Gonzalez.
There was also great success in the half marathon: in the women’s race, Italy’s Alexandrina Mihai took silver ahead of Ukraine’s Olyanovska and behind Spain’s Maria Perez, who won with a world record. “I’m truly grateful for what I accomplished today. I was a little worried because I’d seen two red flags, but I put my heart and soul into it. I knew I was coming into this in good shape; I hoped for that little bit of luck you always need, and I gave it my all.”
It wasn’t Antonella Palmisano’s day, but she’s already put it behind her and is setting her sights on Los Angeles: “This is just a stepping stone; we shouldn’t throw everything away. I’m truly happy that there’s a future ahead, and they’re proving it: we’re passing the torch to an Italy that will surely keep us dreaming even further down the road.”
In the men’s race, applause went to Francesco Fortunato and Andrea Cosi, who took silver and bronze, respectively, behind Spain’s Paul McGrath, who won gold. “Obviously, I was hoping for the win, but I knew the Spaniard was very strong. He’s been improving all season, and I expected him to arrive here in top form. He was very brave to launch an attack from a distance, while I, given the tough course, preferred to be more cautious,” commented Fortunato.
