Sofia Fiorini smashed the world record target time in the marathon race walk at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham on Saturday (15) morning.
In summary
- Massimo Stano and Sofia Fiorini establish an Italian double in Birmingham
- Fiorini smashes the world record target time in the women's marathon race walk
- Stano completes the set of major titles in the men's marathon race walk
Only 21, Fiorini stopped the clock at 3:15:11 to easily surpass the world record target time of 3:17:00 which was set by World Athletics in 2025.
Fiorini’s winning time was almost 10 minutes faster than the previous fastest ever time for this newly-established discipline, bettering Paula Milena Torres’ mark of 3:24:37 set at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in April.
In fact, the top four finishers were all inside this time. Poland’s Katarzyna Zdzieblo and Spain’s Raquel González were second and third in 3:19:50 and 3:20:49 respectively with Greece’s Antigoni Ntrismpioti, who swept to a 20km/35km race walk double in Munich 2022, fourth in 3:22:16.
Fiorini completed the second half of an Italian double in the marathon race walk as Massimo Stano walked to a European record of 2:56:49, comfortably inside the target time of 3:00:00 but just outside the world record target time of 2:56:30.
In doing so, Stano finally completes the set of major titles having previously won 20km gold at the 2020 Olympics and 35km gold at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
Stano was almost one minute down on early race leader Bence Venyercsán through the halfway point but the Italian kept plenty in reserve for the latter stages. He moved relentlessly through the field in the second half, coming through for victory in 2:56:49 ahead of Spain's Miguel Ángel López (2:56:57) with France's Aurélien Quinion taking his first major medal with bronze (2:59:29).
Quinion was the main beneficiary after Venyercsán, who looked on course for the bronze medal, was handed a four minute time penalty in the last kilometre having incurred three warnings. He dropped back to sixth with a national record of 3:01:18 providing scant consolation.
All three medallists were inside the European record target time of 3:00:00.
What they said
Sofia Fiorini (ITA)
"I felt happy and relaxed. When my coach asked me two months ago what my goal was going to be, it wasn't just a medal or first place, but the world record. I trained for that because I felt it was in my legs. I am so grateful for the journey and to arrive here."
Katarzyna Zdzieblo (POL)
"In my dreams I thought I could fight for a medal so I am very happy to have the silver. I knew it would be hard being such a long distance, a marathon feels like a very long way. But to get a medal again after four years is very pleasing as I have had a lot of injuries over the last few years."
"I have finished my medical studies but I am working as a specialist radiographer as well as training. It is hard to do both but it is possible. And it is good to have both - it helps my mind to reset from one job to another."
Massimo Stano (ITA)
"Finally, my medal collection is complete with this European title. My main goal today was to win the gold medal and to bring this home is very special."
"It was nice to see my family, friends, children on the course and to celebrate right in front of them. It is a big party for me. I am a little bit old now, 34, and my legs are getting tired a bit. Thanks to my staff, I managed to get in the best condition possible. I am the European champion."