Switzerland’s Aimie Decrausaz delivered a masterclass in front-running as she took gold in the women’s 3000m at the Rieti 2026 European Athletics U18 Championships on Sunday (19), smashing the championship record.
After the opening kilometre, Decrausaz, Swedish pre-race favourite Hanna Strand and France’s Pauline Daumas had built a clear lead. But with four laps to go, Decrausaz surged away, seemingly unaffected by the blazing sun as her rivals wilted.
Daumas tried to rally to secure silver as Strand was engulfed by the chasing pack with one kilometre still to run.
The Swiss athlete pressed further ahead, opening a 90-metre lead over the rest of the field as the bell sounded for the final lap. By this stage, Daumas had to contend with Germany’s Luise Brzoska and Poland’s Natasza Dudek in the battle for the medals.
Decrausaz cruised relentlessly to the finish, clocking a new championship record of 9:06.60. It slashed nearly 14 seconds off her personal best, almost 12 seconds off the championship record that had been held by Ireland’s Sarah Healy since 2018, and also set a Swiss U18 record.
Dudek emerged with the stronger sprint to win silver in a Polish U18 record of 9:21.02, while Daumas bravely edged out Brzoska by 0.08 for bronze in 9:22.33.
A visibly exhausted Strand, the European U18 leader before the event, showed admirable resolve as she struggled home in 15th in 9:58.74.
Triathlon training
"I am really happy about this gold medal," said Decrausaz afterwards. "The plan was to go out since the beginning and my goal was to get a PB. I focused on myself and controlled the position of the other girls on the screen. I was able to maintain a good rhythm.
"I am a triathlete, training at the club of Yverdon in Switzerland. I will also compete at the European U18 Triathlon Championships in September. I like to do both - athletics and triathlon. So being here with the athletics teammates from Switzerland is a nice experience.
"I do not do many middle distance races. This year I only ran at the Legental Pentecoast meeting where I qualified for Rieti. This is also why I prefer to run in front because I am not into tactics and fights over positions."
*Geoblocking restrictions apply in territories where Rieti 2026 is being covered by a national broadcaster