What did the medal winners have to say in Lagoa? We pick out some of the best quotes from the athletes who made the podium at the 2025 SPAR European Cross Country Championships!
Nadia Battocletti on her upcoming plans…
"Now the expectations are high and I want to be ready for the indoor season. Christmas is around the corner but all I wish is to finish my university exams successfully. I have the last one on 30 December, so my wish is to complete my university career.
"I can imagine myself as an architect sometime in the future. Right now, I just want to finally finish university and focus just on training and sports. The last five years have been crazy combining university and athletics."
Megan Keith on recovering from a fall early in the race…
"After 10 seconds I fell flat on my face, I got off on last place so I was trying to be patient but it was hard, I did not want to be at the back, but during the whole time I was trying to measure my effort, and it paid off because I could have easily over-committed."
On her thoughts on the course...
"The course was really hard, when I looked at it at first I thought it was not a cross course but more of a Mario Kart video game…and with so many hills and jumps I had to measure myself. But it was a fun challenge."
Yasemin Can on her love for cross country running…
"Sometimes in sport you have to accept what you get and then you move on to the next goal. I don't have any plans for my next competitions but one thing I know: I will return to the European Cross Country Championships next year, for sure, because cross country has a special place in my heart."
Nick Griggs on a "dream" double for Ireland in the men’s U23 race…
"It is a dream day for the lads, It is a dream day for Ireland. I had so many silvers, I had bronze individually as well so finally, I am back on the top of the European podium.
"Stuff can happen so quickly, and life can change so easily; you cannot take anything for granted so today is special. I am just trying to soak everything in as much as I can right now. I think that injury has made me appreciate moments like this so much more."
On his quest to break the 13 minute-barrier for 5000m
"Now we are going to be on a [training] camp for a few weeks and then we are going to Boston for the 5000m. It is going to be very tough but I believe I can break the 13 minute-barrier. That is my main goal for the indoor season."
Jimmy Gressier reflecting on his 2025 season…
"I decided to come here mainly because the team needed my help to try to fight for a medal and I also believed I was able to win individually. I finished second, not exactly what I came for but I'm satisfied after an amazing year. World champion, European half marathon champion, a lot of amazing personal records happened in 2025. What a beautiful year!
"Of course in the last lap I believed I could beat Thierry in the sprint but it turned out he was stronger than me. Bravo to him. Unfortunately today my legs weren't as strong as I wanted."
Alois Abraham on his Gressier-inspired finish for bronze in the men’s U20 race…
"With 400 metres to go, I was in fifth. Even though I was running out of time to get the podium, I knew I had something left and the victorious sprint of Jimmy Gressier in Tokyo came into my mind. I just gave everything out of me. That was a wonderful feeling."
U20 winner Willem Renders on preferring cross country to track…
"I love cross country. I like it more than track, so I think I will keep doing it. This course was very tough because you did not have any time where you could recover. Uphills were really fast and there were those sharp turns. It was a special course. I have never run on something like that."
Innes FitzGerald reflecting on her hat-trick of European U20 cross country titles…
"I think Brussels [in 2023] was the most special after coming fourth in Turin. Coming back and winning in Brussels on my favourite course…mud. That is what I like."
Aurelien Radja on winning men’s U23 silver after disappointment in Antalya and Bergen…
"I kept believing in the process, I took something out of the bad experience to be more mature. That opened my eyes to increase my level. Now I know I just had to be calm because one day I would get this international medal. Of course it took me much longer than I expected but it is what it is. After the disappointment of Bergen, this feels like a sweet revenge."
Maria Forero on the significance of her neckerchief…
"I have been thinking so many days about this moment and all expectations were fulfilled. I have been wearing this neckerchief because of my friend Blanca who retires this year and she gave it to me so I wanted to run with it to be with her during the race."
Pietro Arese on anchoring Italy to a third mixed relay title since 2022…
"This is the fourth time I have run the relay and for the first time all the work was done when I got the baton so I am so grateful for my team, all I had to do was to maintain the place. Last two golds, I had to build the gap for my team but this year all my team did the work before I started to run, so a big big thank you to them."
Rodrigo Lima on the pressure of being part of Portugal’s mixed relay team…
"I felt pressure to be in this team with medallists at the global level. We have a world champion...but I'm not here by chance. I dedicate myself to be present on these stages and I believe I didn't lose any metres for the guys that were ahead of me. When Salomé delivered the baton in fifth, I knew Isaac would do something special and sure he did!"
Callum Elson on going head-to-head with Isaac Nader on the last leg
"Obviously we are racing in Portugal. Isaac Nader, the world champion, is Portuguese, so I could hear that when he was following me the whole way because the crowd was getting louder and louder and louder. I just thought that if he goes past me, I need to hope there is not another person so that I can keep a medal. We will try to get him next time."
