A talismanic figure for Italian athletics, all eyes were on Gianmarco Tamberi as the ultimate home hero at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships.
A born showman who thrives under the brightest spotlight, Tamberi was at his charismatic best as he soared to a third successive European men's high jump title in front of an adoring Stadio Olimpico crowd.
In the countdown to Birmingham 2026 (10–16 August), we look back at 26 unforgettable moments from European Athletics Championships history – and few were more memorable than Tamberi's spectacular hat-trick triumph in Rome.
The background
With Olympic, world and European titles already to his name, Gianmarco Tamberi arrived in 2024 as one of the most decorated and recognisable athletes in the sport. His glittering collection included Olympic gold, world gold, two European outdoor titles, two European indoor crowns and a world indoor title.
His defining moment came at the Tokyo Olympics, where he and Qatar's Mutaz Barshim chose to share the gold medal rather than continue a jump-off for outright victory – an act of sportsmanship that became one of the enduring images of the Games.
It was a remarkable redemption story. A torn ankle ligament had cruelly ruled Tamberi out of the Rio Olympics, and the injury took years to overcome as he fought his way back to full fitness and confidence.
During that resurgence, he also captained Italy to a historic first victory at the European Athletics Team Championships in Silesia in 2023.
Italian athletics was riding an unprecedented wave of success and Tamberi, with his surfer looks and trademark half-shaven beard reserved for the biggest occasions, had become its poster boy.
By the time Roma 2024 arrived, expectations had reached fever pitch. As national captain and sporting icon, Tamberi was expected to deliver nothing less than gold in front of his home fans.
Yet, approaching his 32nd birthday, there were genuine doubts over his condition. He had skipped the entire indoor season and had not competed at all before the European Championships.
What happened?
A solitary clearance at 2.21m on Sunday 9 June was enough to secure Tamberi's place in the final and ease concerns over his fitness.
By the time Tuesday night's final arrived, Italy was enjoying a championships unlike any before.
Antonella Palmisano (women's 20km race walk), Nadia Battocletti (women's 5000m), Marcell Jacobs (men's 100m), Leonardo Fabbri (men's shot put), Yemaneberhan Crippa (men's half marathon), the Italian men's half marathon team, Lorenzo Simonelli (men's 110m hurdles) and Sarah Fantini (women's hammer) had already struck gold during the opening four days.
Then came the entrance of the great showman.
With Italian President Sergio Mattarella in attendance, a packed grandstand overlooking the high jump apron and the strains of the classic Italian song 'Volare' echoing around the stadium, the stage was perfectly set.
Arms outstretched in tribute to the song – whose title translates as "to fly" – Tamberi made his entrance with unmistakable intent.
There was early turbulence. He needed a second attempt at 2.26m and then all three attempts to clear 2.29m, while Ukraine's Vladyslav Lavskyy sailed over first time to take the lead.
But buoyed by the deafening support of the crowd, Tamberi found his rhythm. He cleared 2.31m at the first attempt as Lavskyy faltered, before the Ukrainian's three unsuccessful efforts at 2.33m confirmed the Italian's third consecutive European crown.
For Tamberi, though, the show was only just beginning.
He cleared 2.34m first time before dramatically limping back to his chair, apparently injured, silencing the stadium.
Moments later, with impeccable comic timing, he produced a handful of springs from his shoes to explain his soaring jumps, sending the crowd into laughter.
His final act was an assault on the championship record at 2.37m.
Almost inevitably, he cleared it at the first attempt, producing the perfect finale to a captivating performance.
Tamberi celebrated by embracing his wife before making his way into the stands to celebrate with thousands of ecstatic supporters, while later that evening Nadia Battocletti added yet another Italian gold by winning the women's 10,000m.
The aftermath
Tamberi travelled to the Paris Olympics later that summer as Italy's flag bearer and with genuine hopes of defending his Olympic title.
There would be more drama, but no fairytale ending.
He accidentally lost his wedding ring in the River Seine during the opening ceremony before suffering a debilitating bout of kidney stones during the Games. The illness drained the usually exuberant Italian, who could manage only 11th place in the final with a best clearance of 2.27m.
He ended the season on a high by winning the Diamond League Final in Brussels.
Since then, however, Achilles problems have hampered his progress. He was eliminated in the qualifying round at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and has yet to compete in 2026.