Mondo Duplantis was typically brilliant in winning his third successive gold in the final event of the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, narrowly missing a new world record in the process.
The rest of the track and field programme had concluded, and Mondo had all eyes on him in the Stadio Olimpico. The adoring crowd serenaded him to the Italian favourite “Volare,” translated as “Fly” in English as he took the bar ever higher to gold, and onwards to world record attempts via a championship record.
Championship record for Mondo
The Olympic and world champion opened his account with a straightforward first time clearance of 5.65m and was equally untroubled at 5.82, 5.92m and 5.97m. When gold was secured, the Swedish superstar skipped straight to 6.10m and effortlessly cleared it first time for a new championship record.
Then he set his sights on a new world record of 6.25m, which was beyond him on this occasion, just. His best attempt being his first, with his chest just grazing the bar on the way down. Nonetheless, it was the 60th competition in which Mondo has cleared six metres, and the 82nd time in total in his already remarkable career.
"I felt really good, of course, the main goal was to go out there and to win, take home my third gold," he said. "I am very satisfied with the height, I did not really think I was attempting the world record today. It was not part of the plan. After the 6.10m, there was just too much energy there. I looked at my parents and we both had the same idea, we were like 'it is just fun, so why not?'
"I cannot complain. You need a great team and you have trust in them, I trust my parents, they led me and guided me to where I am today. It is such a special relationship we have. We find a good balance also. We love pole vault so much. It is always super special to have them here."
Emmanouil Karalis added European silver to the world indoor bronze he won earlier this year. The Greek athlete was also rewarded with a new personal best, clearing 5.87m at the first attempt. He had subsequent failures at 5.92m, 5.97m and 6.02m as he boldly targeted ever-rising bars to try to match Mondo. But he could still be well satisfied with his night’s work.
Turkyie’s Ersu Şaşma and Germany’s Oleg Zernikel shared bronze, both with season best clearances of 5.82m, each achieved at the second attempt.
Mihambo wins gold with third best ever jump
In another competition of super high quality, Malaika Mihambo once again proved her championship class. The Olympic champion and twice world champion, regained the European women’s long jump title she last won in Berlin 2018 with a superb world leading second round leap of 7.22m (-1.4m/s). It was the third longest jump of her career.
The German had already looked in ominously good form - as far as her opposition was concerned – when she landed a 7.03m jump in Tuesday’s (11) qualifying round. And so, it proved at the Stadio Olimpico.
But she had to be at her best to get the better of a strong field, performing at the peak of their powers. Mikaelle Assani of Germany with 6.91m (-0.6m/s), Hilary Kpatcha of France with 6.88m (-0.7m/s), Annik Kälin of Switzerland with 6.82m (-0.7ms/) and Plamena Mitkova of Bulgaria, 2022 World U20 champion with 6.80m (+0.2m/s) all leapt to personal best distances.
Portugal’s Agate De Sousa also landed a 6.91m (-0.6m/s) jump to occupy silver medal position, her next best of 6.87m bettering Assani’s. It left Italy’s great hope and darling of the crowd, Larissa Iapichino out of the medal positions going into the final round.
But the daughter of twice world champion long jumper Fiona May, showed her championship DNA as she stretched out to 6.94m (+0.1m/s) in the final round to grab silver. It edged out De Sousa to bronze with Assani relegated to fourth,
"Over the moon"
“This is madness, I have goose bumps,” said Mihambo. “The 7.22m was close to a perfect jump, I hit the board well. But the headwind was disturbing, so the result could have been even better. But we never know how this will continue.
“Before coming here, I knew that I had not yet showed what I had in my, my training results showed that jumps around 7.20 are possible. Now the most important thing is to stay healthy. I am still young, and I know that my career will last for some more years. I am over the moon with this gold medal.
"I take it easy and that is what makes me an even better competitor. We jumped close to the fans here in Rome and I felt the energy from the fans. I enjoyed it a lot.”
Vadlejch gets gold at last
Olympic, world and European silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch finally got his hands on gold by winning the men’s javelin. And in the process, achieving something his legendary coach never managed.
Three-times Olympic and three-times world champion Jan Zelezny amazingly never won European gold. And it looked like the Czechia thrower he mentors, would have to extend his wait for a major championship title when lying in third place after the fifth round with a best of 84.66m.
But he produced a brilliant final round throw of 88.65m to snatch gold from defending champion Julian Weber, who had led since the opening round with 85.94m. The German sportingly congratulated Vadlejch immediately, perhaps conscious of his rival’s patient wait for glory. He unleashed a game final effort of 84.62m, but ultimately, he had to settle for silver this time.
Bronze went to Oliver Helander of Finland with a third round 85.75m. Edis Matusevičius was fourth with 83.96m, the best result ever for a Lithuanian athlete in the men’s javelin at the European Athletics Championships.
Dreams come true for Czechia thrower
“My dreams came true today,” said a thrilled Vadlejch. “I suffered quite a lot during the whole competition. I knew I was in shape, but it just did not click. Maybe it was really the last attempt that everything just came together enhanced by the support of this crazy crowd.
“It is the most I could wish for. I knew it well that if I only improve one small detail, the throw would go much further. After the competition, Julian Weber came to me and told me: You should have thrown it earlier. Do not do this to me again please.”
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics