Spain’s Gabriel Gonzalez led the men’s 5000m race walk from gun-to-tape at the Rieti 2026 European Athletics U18 Championships on Saturday (18) morning.
The European U18 leader was the pre-race favourite, and he set out to dominate from the very start.
He led by 50 metres after the first kilometre and had extended his advantage to 100 metres by halfway.
At that stage, the chasing pack was led by Türkiye’s Muhammed Emir Isik, Italy’s Davide Sorressa and Ukraine’s Vitalii Tarasiuk.
Under the blazing Italian sun, Gonzalez’s relentless pace faltered slightly, but he still had plenty in hand over the rest of the field in the closing stages.
The chasing pack had also begun to tire in the energy-sapping conditions.
Isik faded badly in the final third of the race, while Tarasiuk also began to tire and lost touch with the medal positions.
Sorressa, Italian teammate Riccardo Rabai, Croatia’s Patrik Pivarski and France’s Matteo Henault took over the chase. By the time the bell rang for the final lap, they had reduced Gonzalez’s advantage to 40 metres.
But it was still a comfortable lead for the Spaniard, who strode to gold in 20:33.76.
Sorressa just got the better of Pivarski in the closing strides to take silver by 0.5 in 20:40.06. Rabai was fourth in 20:43.22, while Henault faded to fifth in 20:56.62.
"I suffered a bit"
"I am so grateful and happy," said Gonzalez afterwards. "Last night I could not sleep. I am the European leader, so I have to dominate the race. In the last week I had trained very well and I felt strong, so with my coach we decided that I should go in front and pace hard.
"It worked, but I tell you that I suffered a bit at the end. On the screen I saw Sorressa and Pivarski coming but I was still enough meters away.
"Racing on the street gave me also a good level, it helped me for this competition, I was able to maintain the pressure and to stay strong. The was great noise on the tribune and I love that knowing and feeling that my family and friends support me."
*Geoblocking restrictions apply in territories where Rieti 2026 is being covered by a national broadcaster