A third world title for Spain’s María Pérez, three medals for Italy, and another major relay medal for the Netherlands were the European highlights from day 1 of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Saturday (13).
Pérez, who won the 20km/35km race walk double at the Budapest 2025 World Athletics Championships, was a dominant victor again over the longer distance.
Despite the strength-sapping humidity, the world record holder won by more than three minutes in 2:39:01 ahead of Italy’s former Olympic 20km champion Antonella Palmisano (2:42:24).
There was further Italian delight with Nadia Battocletti claiming a brilliant silver in the women’s 10,000m, chasing home Ethiopia’s world record holder Beatrice Chebet for a repeat of the 1-2 finish from last year’s Paris Olympics.
European champion Battocletti also had the satisfaction of setting a new Italian record of 30:38.23, just 0.62 seconds away from gold.
Fabbri wins second successive world medal
In the field, Leonardo Fabbri capped an up-and-down season with a fine bronze in the men’s shot put. His best throw of 21.94m equalled New Zealand’s former world champion Tom Walsh, but he secured the medal on countback thanks to his next best effort of 21.83m in round 2.
USA’s Ryan Crouser won his fourth successive title with 22.34m, while Mexico’s Uziel Muñoz snatched silver with a final-round 21.97m, denying Fabbri a second successive world silver. The Italian, however, was content with bronze, having missed the podium at both last year’s Paris Olympics and this year’s European Athletics Indoor Championships.
Bol secures silver and Belgium grab bronze
Femke Bol’s last-leg relay heroics have become a hallmark of major championships, but in the mixed 4x400m she had to settle for silver, with the USA uncatchable heading into the final lap.
Bol ensured the Netherlands claimed second place, while behind her a fascinating battle for bronze saw Helena Ponette edge past Justyna Święty-Ersetic to secure a medal for Belgium ahead of Poland.
Majestic Mondo teases world record bid
In the men’s pole vault, Armand Duplantis needed just two jumps to book his place in Monday’s final (15), where a world record attempt at 6.30m remains a tantalising prospect. Sandra Elkasevic advanced to her eighth women’s discus final at the World Athletics Championships, leading the qualifiers with 66.72m.
Two-time world champion Malaika Mihambo of Germany had a tricky qualification in the women’s long jump, placing only ninth with 6.63m. Italy’s European indoor champion Larissa Iapichino was a shock non-qualifier after managing 6.56m.
Daryll Neita of Great Britain was the second-fastest qualifier in the women’s 100m heats with 10.94. Diamond League final winner Frederik Ruppert of Germany progressed safely in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, placing fourth in heat 2 in 8:27.83.
In the women’s 1500m heats, Ireland’s European indoor 3000m champion Sarah Healy advanced by placing third in heat 4 (4:02.67). But Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Laura Muir of Great Britain was eliminated after finishing eighth in the same heat (4:05.59).