Marcell Jacobs: The medical report explains what happened to him at the European Championships

Marcell Jacobs underwent an MRI this morning in Rome to assess the injury he sustained eight days ago during the 100-meter final at the 2026 European Athletics Championships. The tests revealed a moderate injury to the pectineal muscle in his left thigh, which is already healing.

Dr. Bernardino Petrucci, the federation’s deputy team doctor, announced the results of the examination. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion will continue his rehabilitation in Rome, where he had already begun treatment in the days following the muscle injury he sustained at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. The goal at this point is to make a full recovery from the injury without rushing the process. Jacobs’ season may therefore already be over, with his sights set on the next competitive year.

The Italian sprinter had returned to prominence in the 100-meter dash after a long and difficult period. At the Golden Gala in Rome, he clocked 9.99, breaking back under the 10-second barrier after about two years, before improving to 9.96 at the Diamond League meet in Paris—a performance that marked the European season’s best time.

Subsequently, Jacobs also clocked an extraordinary 9.67 with a tailwind of 4.1 m/s, the third-fastest time in history under all conditions. However, physical problems forced him to withdraw from the events in Monte Carlo and Madrid. His return at the Italian National Championships confirmed his ambitions, while his performance in the European Championships semifinals established him as one of the top favorites for the gold medal. In the final, however, a strain in the pectineal muscle of his left thigh halted his run. Now Jacobs will have to focus on his recovery, hoping to put the injury behind him and return to top form next season.