Italy heads into the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham with one of its largest-ever squads, but several key athletes are managing the fine line between ambition and physical readiness as the August 10–16, 2026 competition approaches.
Why This Matters
• Italy has fielded a record 132 athletes, making this the largest squad the nation has ever sent to a continental championship.
• Mattia Furlani, the World Champion in long jump, is competing while recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in May.
• Zaynab Dosso, the World Indoor 60m Champion, shifts her focus to outdoor sprints after claiming the 2026 world indoor title in Toruń, and will compete in the 100m event.
Furlani's Comeback Tests Italy's Medal Hopes
The long jump final on August 11 will feature Mattia Furlani, the 18-year-old prodigy who won the World Championship title in Tokyo 2025. Furlani openly acknowledged he is "not at top condition" ahead of departure from Rome's Fiumicino Airport. He suffered a first-degree bicipite femoris tear during the Diamond League meet in Xiamen on May 23, forcing him to skip the prestigious Golden Gala in Rome and raising questions about his fitness for Birmingham.
Furlani returned to competition on July 10 in Monaco, clearing 8.01 meters—a solid mark but short of the 8.43m personal best he set earlier this year. That record still makes him one of the youngest jumpers in history to breach 8.40m, and his bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics confirms his credentials at the highest level.
But Birmingham's field is competitive. Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece leads the season rankings with 8.66m, while Switzerland's Simon Ehammer (8.51m), Bulgaria's Bozhidar Saraboyukov (8.49m), and Guinea-Bissau's Gerson Baldè (8.46m) have all jumped farther than Furlani's season best. The Italian strategically skipped the national championships to focus on fine-tuning his preparation, a calculated approach aimed at managing his recovery.
"I can't wait to step onto the field," Furlani said before boarding his flight. Whether that eagerness translates into a medal finish will depend on whether his hamstring holds up under competition pressure.
Dosso's Indoor Dominance Faces Outdoor Reality Check
While Furlani battles injury concerns, Zaynab Dosso faces a different challenge: translating her indoor sprint dominance into outdoor success. The 24-year-old captured the World Indoor 60m title in Toruń in 2026 and claimed the European Indoor 60m crown in Apeldoorn in 2025, establishing herself as the fastest woman over that distance on the continent.
But Birmingham's outdoor track changes the equation. The championship features no 60m event, meaning Dosso will compete in the 100m instead—a discipline where the deeper field and longer distance shift the tactical dynamics. She arrives having described the 2026 season as one of "highs and lows," acknowledging that her outdoor form has lagged behind her indoor achievements.
Yet Dosso is embracing the outdoor challenge. "I'll play the part of the underdog, and that gives me more peace of mind," she said at Fiumicino. "At the same time, I know I'm ready. And no one knows my full capabilities outdoors—I like that."
Her strategy hinges on the element of surprise: competitors who dominate indoors don't always command the same respect outdoors. If she can transfer the explosive start that made her untouchable over 60m into the longer sprint, she could perform well in a competitive field.
Record Squad Reflects Italy's Athletic Depth
The 132-strong Italian delegation—comprised of 70 men and 62 women—surpasses the previous record of 116 athletes sent to the Rome 2024 European Championships. The squad includes defending champions such as Marcell Jacobs (100m), Gianmarco Tamberi (high jump), Leonardo Fabbri (shot put), Nadia Battocletti (5,000m and 10,000m), Yeman Crippa (10,000m), Sara Fantini (hammer throw), and Antonella Palmisano (race walk).
Andy Diaz Hernández, the Cuban-born triple jumper who now represents Italy, expressed confidence at departure. "I feel good. I have good sensations," he said. A two-time World Indoor Champion, Diaz will contest the triple jump final on August 15, alongside compatriot Andrea Dallavalle, the World Championship silver medalist.
The meet also introduces the 4x100m mixed relay for the first time at a European outdoor championship, expanding Italy's medal opportunities. The event runs through August 16, with finals scheduled across evening sessions that will showcase 50 disciplines in total.
What This Means for Italy's Medal Count
Italy enters Birmingham with realistic ambitions of matching or exceeding its medal tally from the Rome 2024 Euros. The Alexander Stadium won't offer the same home advantage, but the depth of the squad—bolstered by Olympic champions like Massimo Stano (race walk, Tokyo 2020 gold) and relay competitors Fausto Desalu and Lorenzo Patta—positions the national team for sustained success across multiple events.
The championships also serve as a measuring point ahead of the next Olympic cycle. For athletes like Furlani and Dosso, Birmingham represents a chance to prove they can perform under pressure. For Italy's athletics federation, the record delegation size signals a generation of talent capable of competing at the highest level for years to come.
Veterans like Daniele Meucci, the 40-year-old 2014 European Marathon Champion, add experience to a squad that blends youth and maturity. Meucci's presence underscores the depth of Italy's athletic infrastructure.
High Stakes for a Continental Power
Birmingham offers Italy a chance to reaffirm its status as a leading athletics power in Europe. Success will fuel public enthusiasm and strengthen momentum heading into the 2027 World Championships and beyond.
For residents tracking the action, the meet's evening sessions—starting nightly around 18:00 local time (19:00 in Rome)—provide accessible viewing. The opening ceremony begins at 18:10 on August 10, with medal events following. Road events like the marathon and race walks will take place outside the stadium, threading through Birmingham's streets.
As Furlani, Dosso, and their teammates prepare for Birmingham, the central question remains whether Italy's largest-ever European squad can deliver on its potential—or whether injuries and adjustments will temper expectations. The answer begins on August 10.
