Leonardo Fabbri delivered a one-man demonstration to defend his shot put title on the first evening session of the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham on Monday (10) evening.
All three of Fabbri’s valid throws would have sufficed for the title. His best mark of 22.31m was the second longest winning throw in championship history behind his championship record of 22.45m from Rome two years ago.
In summary
- Leonardo Fabbri successfully defends his European title with a third round throw of 22.31m
- His training partner Zane Weir ensures an Italian 1-2 in the final
- Home favourite Scott Lincoln just misses out on a medal in fourth
Leonardo Fabbri led the qualifying round with 21.29m and the reigning champion demonstrated that he is by far the standard bearer of this event in Europe over the course of his series.
Fabbri led proceedings from the opening round by unleashing a first round throw of 21.36m with his training partner Zane Weir - who has just become a father - also surpassing the 21 metre-line on his first attempt with 21.12m.
But the gap between the two friends and training partners - whose coach Paolo Dal Soglio won a European indoor title in 1996 - widened significantly as Fabbri began to stamp his authority on the final with subsequent throws of 21.78m and 22.31m, the second longest throw in championship history.
Fabbri extended his margin to over one metre ahead of Weir who was safe in the silver medal position.
Behind the Italian tandem, Great Britain’s perennial fourth-placer Scott Lincoln held the bronze medal position with 20.81m until the fourth round when Sweden’s Wictor Petersson prised the medal away from the unlucky Brit with a mark of 20.86m before improving to 20.91m on his sixth attempt.
This was the fourth time Lincoln has finished just out of the medals in fourth in a major event, including the last two editions of the European Athletics Championships as well as last year’s European Athletics Indoor Championships and this year's World Athletics Indoor Championships.
The entire Italian team is sporting a black ribbon on their vests in memory of 1960 Olympic 200m champion Livio Berutti who died on Sunday at the age of 87.
What they said...
Leonardo Fabbri (ITA)
"I really wanted to throw 23 metres because I feel I am capable of throwing it. It has been three years since I have been throwing 23 metres in training. But I was not able to get it in the competition. I told myself that I just want to win with whatever result."
“Rome was special because I had my home crowd there and I was super confident. I was never doubting myself, I never thought about losing. Today, I was scared. I did not enjoy it so much - so I would say that this one is better.”
Zane Weir (ITA)
"After a difficult qualification it is obviously nice to get a bit of energy, find a technical throw and get over 21m. I was always searching for a little bit more. I would love to be a little bit more competitive with Leo (Fabbri). But at this point, he is light years ahead of us - it feels like that."
Wictor Petersson (SWE)
"I am very pleased. It was my goal to win a medal but I haven't had the best season, so doing a season's best here meant a lot to me. It is my first championship medal outdoors so it is a big day for me. This is my first time competing in England, I really like it."