When travelling to Rieti, Tito Odunaike had his eye on two things, the gold medal and the championship record – and on Sunday (19) he did just that with a jump of 16.12m in the fourth round.
It was a bold approach to be so vocal about wanting to break the championship record of 16.03m from the inaugural European Athletics U18 Championships in 2016, but Odunaike’s dominance was clear with four jumps further than any other competitor.
It was Hungary’s Matyas Bella who took silver with a PB of 15.49m while Greece’s Dimitrios Moumouris took bronze also with 15.49m but due to countback was third.
"This is my first major international title, so I am pleased," Odunaike said. "I think I could have jumped further than equalling my PB.
"Yet I showed consistency. Normally my series is a bit weird. I jump my best on the 4th or 5th attempts. And also today I could definitely feel something big is coming in the last attempts.
"I will celebrate tonight with my teammates because Team GB is doing very well. What I like about triple jump is that there is so much to improve - on the run-up, on the speed, on the hop, on the jump - there are four elements. You are never finished with improving. I do not have idols, I like to push myself."
In fact all of the medallists measured a jump at 15.49m, and the top seven all jumped beyond 15 metres in a tight final.
But the Brit's record-breaking jump was one of beauty, once he has soared through the air and landed in the sand he immediately popped back up with the roar of the crowd lifting him up.
He knew, they knew, and not long after it was confirmed to be a championship record, and an equal PB, equal European U18 lead, and equal world U18 lead, setting Odunaike up well for the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon from 5-9 August.
Portugal’s Joao Matos narrowly missed out on the podium with his best, and only valid, jump of 15.47m, though he did set a new national U18 record to place fourth.
*Geoblocking restrictions apply in territories where Rieti 2026 is being covered by a national broadcaster