ROME Gianmarco Tamberi again, still Tamberi, still Tamberi. Also triumphant in Rome, at the end of a crazy race, to win the third European outdoor title of his incredible career, after Amsterdam in 2016 and Munich 2022, sending the Olimpico into raptures. A total delirium for Gimbo, who first risks elimination at 2.29 (passed on the third attempt), then dominates until the final 2.37.
In front of the President
All in front of the President of the Republic Mattarella, who arrived in the evening to (also) witness his new venture. A true triumphal catwalk, like an athlete with a competitive past made up of many victories in the most important competitions (Olympics, outdoor and outdoor world championships, Europeans, Diamond League) abundantly deserves. The match started a few minutes late because at 8.27pm, i.e. 8 minutes before the scheduled time, Mattarella arrived at the Olimpico, with the Minister of Sport Abodi and Coni Giovanni Malagò, who was followed by the execution of the Mameli anthem.
The news of the evening
The race starts at the measurement of 2.17, which they beat the other two Italians Stefano Sottile and Manuel Lando on the first attempt, while Tamberi prefers to enter the race at the next measurement of 2.22, where all thirteen participants in the final qualify. A measurement, 2.22, which Tamberi easily surpasses, breaking the ice. Sottile and Lando also did well. At the end of the series 8 remain in the race. The bar is raised to 2.26 and here Tamberi, just like the other two blues, fails the first test but then makes up for it immediately afterwards by crossing the bar and taking third place momentarily, behind the two Ukrainians Doroshchuk and Lavskyy, who had surpassed them at 2.26 in the first test. After various attempts, five remain in the race, with Carmoy (Belgium) and Stefela (Czech Republic). The next measurement, 2.29, sees the five protagonists all making mistakes in the first test. At the second Lavskyy goes very high, Tamberi badly, as do the other three.
But Gimbo has seven lives. After a long concentration he gets the jump right, passes the bar and remains in the competition at the third attempt, placing himself in second place in the provisional ranking. He goes up again, 2.31. There is a lot of tension, the public gets excited by supporting the man from the Marche in search of yet another laurel. Gimbo gathers the last of his energy, fueled by the affection of the public, goes into the run-up at 11 steps, and passes the bar on the first attempt and takes the lead. At 2.33 the Ukrainian missed his two attempts, Tamberi, already certain of success, asked for 2.34 and surpassed them. But it’s not over: he asks for 2.37 and exceeds it again on the first test. A triumph with people coming onto the pitch to hug him while he rushes to kiss his wife, Chiara, who tells him “you’re crazy”. He then goes up to the stands to greet and receive compliments from President Mattarella. «I’m very happy – his first words – if I hadn’t won I wouldn’t have spoken for a month. I wanted to win. I dedicate the victory to Fabrizio Borra, my physiotherapist who is going through a bad time. Rome is a transition that went well. As captain I couldn’t not win. Thanks also to President Mattarella. In Paris to break everything again. As a standard bearer I assure you that we will do it, together with all our comrades.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Read the full article at
Adriatic Courier
