Sara Fantini enjoyed the biggest moment of her career to date as she won the women’s hammer at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships. It was Italy’s eighth gold of an incredible championships for the host nation.
Bronze medallist in Munich 2022 and sixth at last year’s World Athletics Championships, the 26 year old has long been a contender on the international stage. But like so many of her compatriots, she has been lifted to greater deeds on the Roma 2024 stage.
Class field
She took an early lead with a solid second round effort of 72.30m, but that was always likely to a difficult lead to protect against a class international field.
Three-time Olympic champion Anita Włodarczyk is one of the sport’s great competitors and is edging her way back to fitness after a serious thigh injury in 2022. She unleashed a season’s best 72.92m in the fourth round and the world record holder was suddenly eyeing up a fifth European title.
But Santini was not to be denied, she responded with a season’s best of her own in the fourth round of 74.81m to seal another glorious night for Italy. France’s Rose Loga won bronze, the former world and European U20 silver medallist landing a personal best of 72.68m in the pivotal fourth round.
Santini was visibly emotional as she entered the circle for the final round as champion with her eyes welling as the realisation sunk in. "I dreamt of this success, but I didn't expect it to come this season," she said.
"In the past months there were so many difficulties. Behind this medal there is a lot of work and training, even on a psychological level. This year, I started a journey with a psychologist that allowed me to find a new balance with myself and a new tranquillity with my coach.
"I believe it will take some time to realise what I have done. I competed with some of the strongest athletes in the world. And surpassing them truly makes me feel like a champion. I still can't believe I dueled and beat Anita Wlodarczyk. She stimulated me with her fourth attempt: she is a reference for me, and receiving her compliments was really emotional."
Miellet wins gold in fifth steeplechase ever
Osama Zoghlami made a bold bid for yet another Italian gold medal in the men’s steeplechase, stretching out to an early lead. He was still 20 metres clear with two laps to go. But at the bell, the pack had reeled him in and by the first barrier, he was facing a losing battle.
French duo Alexis Miellet and Djilali Bedrani, Germany pair Karl Bebendorf and Frederik Ruppert and Spain’s Daniel Arce formed the charge for medals. On the back straight, the French kicked hard and at the water jump Miellet went to the front.
Miellet, in only his fifth steeplechase ever held on for gold in a personal best of 8:14.01 with Bedrani, eighth two years ago, taking silver in 8:14.36. Bronze went to Bebendorf who held off Rupper in the closing sprint by 0.67 in 8:14.41. Both were also rewarded with personal bests.
“This is the first medal in my career, and I have worked so hard to achieve it,” commented silver medallist Bedraini. “I wanted to win, obviously, but a double medal for France is really great. I wasn't worried about Zoghlami's lead, it was so soon. But in the final, I really want the gold medal, it was so close.”
Skotheim leads decathlon
Norwegian 22-year-old Sander Skotheim is the overnight leader in the men’s decathlon. A silver medallist at the 2023 European Athletics U23 Championships and the 2021 European Athletics U20 Championships, he is firmly on track for a medal at senior level.
He opened the day with 10.82 in the 100m, followed it with a wind-assisted 7.93m (+4.0m/s) in the long jump, 13.96m in the shot, 2.17m in the high jump after a gutsy clearance at the third attempt and a personal best 47.50 in the 400m to total 4566 points after five events.
“The day 1 was just perfect and I am, ready for the day 2,” said Skotheim. “Long jump was great, high jump - the feeling was fantastic and 217 - I felt like I almost could have done even more. And the 400m was also going great and it was a PB in the end. And the 100 and shot put were like decent events but you never get a perfect decathlon. So, I am super happy about that.”
Johannes Erm of Estonia is in the silver medal position after day one. The world indoor heptathlon bronze medallist bookended a successful opening day with personal bests in the 100m (10.60) and 400m (46.81) and stayed solid throughout to end with 4541 at the halfway point.
France’s Makenson Gletty has emerged as a surprise contender in third place. He set personal bests in the 100m (10.55), long jump (7.59m) and 400m (47.60) on his way to 4539 points.
Twice world champion and twice Olympic silver medallist Kevin Mayer is lying in eighth with 4230 points and with a stronger second day, the Frenchman could certainly still figure.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics