The Italian athletics delegation began its campaign at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham with a commanding victory in the shot put — but the triumph was tempered by a devastating injury to one of the nation's brightest young stars, casting a shadow over Italy's record-breaking presence at the Alexander Stadium.
Why This Matters
• Historic double: Italy's Leo Fabbri retained his European title with a throw of 22.31m, while training partner Zane Weir secured silver at 21.12m — the first Italian shot put 1-2 finish at a continental championship.
• Season-ending blow: World long jump champion Mattia Furlani suffered a recurrence of his right hamstring injury on his first qualifying attempt, ending his 2026 season and leaving in a wheelchair.
• 130 athletes competing: Italy fielded its largest-ever European Championship squad, surpassing the 116 who qualified for Rome 2024.
Fabbri Dominates as Italy Claims Shot Put Glory
Leo Fabbri made a resounding statement on the opening day of competition, launching the shot to 22.31m to claim his second consecutive European title. The 26-year-old's winning mark stands as the second-longest in championship history, trailing only his own record of 22.45m set on home soil in Rome two years ago.
"I wanted to break the championship record, but I had the time of my life," Fabbri said after his victory. "I'm absolutely thrilled. Pulling off this double has been beautiful. We've proven we're the strongest in Europe."
The "we" in Fabbri's celebration refers to Zane Weir, his training partner who secured silver with a throw of 21.12m. The Italian one-two finish in Birmingham underscores the nation's dominance in the discipline, a remarkable achievement for a technical event historically dominated by Eastern European throwers.
The result gives Italy its first medal of the championships and sets an ambitious tone for a delegation that arrived in the English Midlands with 69 men and 61 women — the largest contingent in the country's European Championship history.
Furlani's Heartbreak: Injury Forces Withdrawal
The jubilation from the shot put circle was quickly overshadowed by devastation in the long jump qualifying area. Mattia Furlani, the 21-year-old reigning world champion and Olympic bronze medalist, collapsed in pain after his opening jump, clutching his right hamstring — the same muscle he injured during a Diamond League event in China in May.
After approximately two and a half months of intensive rehabilitation with his medical team, Furlani had felt confident enough to compete. That confidence evaporated within seconds as he landed in the Birmingham sand, immediately signaling to his coaching staff that he could not continue. He was wheeled out of the stadium, his face a mask of anguish.
"My season ends here," Furlani wrote in a somber Instagram post hours later. "It's been two and a half months since that injury in China. Two months with the sole objective of recovering properly to return to competition healthy. I wouldn't have taken the risk of a relapse without absolute certainty. Today I felt good, I was attacking hard, but clearly my body wasn't ready for those speeds yet."
The injury represents a crushing setback for the class of 2005 athlete, who had become one of Italy's most exciting track and field prospects. His withdrawal also eliminates any possibility of competing at upcoming major events and raises questions about his preparation timeline for future seasons.
What This Means for Italian Athletics
Italy's contradictory opening day encapsulates both the depth and fragility of the national program. On one hand, the shot put double demonstrates world-class strength in technical events. Fabbri and Weir train together and have created a culture of excellence that delivers on the championship stage.
On the other, Furlani's injury exposes the precarious nature of managing young talent through the demands of a global season. The long jumper's case will likely prompt internal discussions about injury protocols, particularly regarding hamstring rehabilitation timelines for athletes competing at the highest velocities.
With Furlani out, Francesco Inzoli now carries Italy's long jump hopes. The 21-year-old from Milan qualified for the final with a wind-assisted 8.34m, the best mark of the qualifying round. "I really wanted to perform well and make the final," Inzoli said. "The wind was unpredictable. I had to recalibrate my approach, and I managed it."
Tamberi Returns Under Cloud of Uncertainty
Another storyline looming over Italy's campaign is the condition of Gianmarco Tamberi, the charismatic high jump Olympic champion. Tamberi arrived in Birmingham carrying the weight of a brutal 2026 season marred by plantar fasciitis in his right foot, diagnosed in late January, and recurring kidney stone issues that derailed his performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Despite a recent hospital stay for renal colic, Tamberi qualified for the high jump final. "I'm showing up with an embarrassing measurement," he admitted candidly, "but my physical condition is very good. I'm not bringing the fear of jumping to defend my title. It will be difficult, but I'm not afraid to say it."
Tamberi has a well-documented ability to elevate his performance when championships are on the line. He set the European record of 2.37m when defending his title in Rome 2024, even amid physical challenges. Few would bet against him summoning another inspired performance on British soil.
Mixed Results in Sprint Events
Italy's sprint program delivered disappointment in the women's 100m final, where Zaynab Dosso finished seventh. The sprinter was unsparing in her self-assessment. "Today I give myself a two out of ten. I have no excuses," Dosso said. "I was ready, and leaving the stadium seeing the medal times burns a bit because it was a race within my reach."
The men's 4x100m relay team, meanwhile, competed under a black ribbon in memory of Livio Berruti, Italy's 200m gold medalist at the 1960 Rome Olympics, who passed away recently. Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs and Filippo Tortu, both part of the victorious Tokyo 2020 relay squad, paid tribute to the sprinting legend.
"They say you shouldn't meet your idols — the risk is too high," Tortu wrote on Instagram. "But if your myth is Livio Berruti, he'll sweep that belief away with the same speed he'd send doves flying. I bid you farewell with the promise to carry forward your love for curves, on the track and beyond, living them in an Aristotelian way, not Platonic."
Championships Continue Through August 16
The European Athletics Championships run through August 16, with Italy fielding medal contenders across multiple disciplines. Olympic champions Massimo Stano and Antonella Palmisano will defend their race walk titles, while distance runner Nadia Battocletti aims for doubles in the 5,000m and 10,000m, and Sara Fantini looks to repeat in the hammer throw.
Italy's opening day in Birmingham delivered the full emotional spectrum of championship athletics — the exhilaration of dominance, the weight of expectation, and the cruel randomness of injury. As the competition unfolds, the delegation will look to build on Fabbri and Weir's foundation while navigating the absence of one of its brightest young talents.
