Italy has announced a bumper team of 132 athletes for the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships from 10-16 August.
This is Italy’s biggest ever team selection for a major championships, surpassing the 116 athletes who were selected for the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome where Italy topped the medal table with 11 gold medals.
Italy’s team for Birmingham 2026 includes eight of the nine athletes who won individual gold including Marcell Jacobs who is targeting his third successive 100m title and Nadia Battocletti who will be defending her 5000m and 10,000m titles in Rome.
In the field events, three-time champion Gianmarco Tamberi is back from injury to defend his high jump title while Leonardo Fabbri and Sara Fantini will be targeting back-to-back titles in the men’s shot put and women’s hammer respectively.
Antonella Palmisano, who opened Italy’s gold medal haul in the 20km race walk, will contest the inaugural half marathon race walk while 2024 European half marathon champion Yemaneberhan Crippa has opted for the 10,000m instead of the marathon.
The only individual gold medallist missing from their team is 2024 European 110m hurdles champion Lorenzo Simonelli due to injury.
Other notable names on the Italian team include world champion Mattia Furlani in the men’s long jump, 2026 world leader and world indoor champion Andy Diaz Hernandez in the men's triple jump, European indoor champion Larissa Iapichino in the women's long jump and 2020 Olympic 20km race walk champion Massimo Stano in the men's half marathon race walk.
Italy will also be fielding teams in all six relays including the men's 4x100m in which they will line up as the reigning champions.
The oldest member of the Italian team is 40-year-old 2014 European marathon champion Daniele Meucci who will be competing in his eighth European Athletics Championships.
The full Italian team can be found here.
