In the 46th edition of the Golden Gala, Italy wins in the triple, high and weight events. The American flies over 100 in 9″88, Marcell 5th in 9″99: “Good at half”. Not an evening for Battocletti
Three giants for as many Italian victories and a rediscovered symbolic man. Matteo Sioli (2.28 above), Andy Diaz (17.59 in the triple) and Leo Fabbri (22.14 in the weight), with their statements, ignite the 46th Golden Gala in front of the beautiful audience at the Olimpico (around 30,000 spectators). Marcell Jacobs, in Noah Lyles’ 100, returns under 10″00 after two difficult years and for the twelfth time in his career, 5th in 9″99 (+0.4 m/s). The magical period of the tricolor movement continues: Italy, only in the Florence edition
the captain
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However, we can start with the “captain”, Mr. Jacobs. The most awaited, the most loved, the most acclaimed. His is a race with absolute technical content. Something he hasn’t faced since the Olympic final in Paris 2024, when – 5th even then – he ran in 9″85. Marcell, while returning to training with Paolo Camossi, lined up in the fifth lane, is between two sharks, Noah Lyles, in the sixth and Jordan Anthony, new world champion in the 60 indoor, in the fourth. The man from Garda (0″134 reaction to the shot), from the first supports, demonstrates that he is an athlete reborn. He hasn’t shown such fluid action in a long time. At 30 meters he is third, at 40 he is fourth, then he stays in the pack until 80 and, finally, he pays for his desuetude in certain contexts and stiffens a bit. Even if he remains only 5/100 from the second place of the Cameroonian Eseme. But, after the windy 10″01 in Savona, he confirms that he is on the right path. Dreaming of the third consecutive European gold, in August in Birmingham, is not forbidden. Lyles, in front, with a crackling finish, reaffirms his role: he scores a sumptuous 9″88. «What an incredible atmosphere – admits Marcell, not entirely satisfied -: I only half liked it. After the start I had a break, but compared to the last outing I took an important step forward. Technically I’m improving. I live in Acquacetosa, I’m locked in there, but we’re working well, we’ll still have fun. I want a rematch from Noah. And continue to experience great emotions. Closing perhaps right here with the 2029 World Cup.” Lyles also thanks the audience: «They transmitted energy» he says.
the king
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The first to make a splash, at the start, is Diaz. Which, with the Diamond League, has a special feeling. The 31-year-old triple jumper, Roman from Cuba, has competed in the circuit 15 times and on 14 occasions achieved a podium placing, with 9 successes – 3 finals included – 2 second and 2 third places. Even a sixth, right in Rome, in the debut of 2019, when Italy had not yet entered his life. This time he also writes a piece of Italian athletics history. Because at the Golden Gala, after Florence 2023 and Rome 2024, he achieved his third success. Like only the great Alessandro Lambruschini in the 3000 steeplechase (Verona 1988, Rome 1993 and 1996). Fabrizio Donato’s pupil – braids, chains, earrings and yellow-green bodysuit from his Fiamme Gialle – dominates. He makes a null on the first attempt, then lands the signature move: 17.58, with about thirty cm given to the platform. And after another null and a waiver, an increase of one cm. His 17.59, with an almost perfect take-off this time, 5 cm from the starting line, is unbeatable. The run-up is fast, the leaping action is solid. Only the Jamaican Jordan Scott, already second with 17.08, in the last test, with 17.33, comes a little closer to him. The others end up far away. Andy, making his seasonal outdoor debut after his second consecutive world indoor gold in March, remains the man to beat. Today, at the Sprint Festival at Marmi, a stone’s throw from the Olimpico, he will be the last member of a 4×100 which will include Daniele and Francesco Inzoli and Andrew Howe, training partners at Infernetto. The ambitious goal? Go below 39”00.
below the curve
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Sioli and Fabbri compete at the same time: the jumper under the South, the thrower under the North. With every attempt, a roar. The 20-year-old from Milan, a prodigious talent, signs the first Italian victory in the specialty at the Golden Gala. Where Gimbo Tamberi never arrived, his pupil arrives. Also good – it must be said – at taking advantage of the moment of international tiredness under the bar. The Fiamma Azzurra scores 2.16 and 2.20 on the first attempt, 2.23, 2.26 and 2.28 on the second and fails the three at 2.31: it would have improved the personnel by one centimeter. Meanwhile, after a troubled winter due to a scaphoid injury, he is back to demonstrate what he is made of. And Fabbri? Fabbri is there. Here it is, if there is. For him the victories on the circuit become four, the second in his home event. Leo starts quietly: 8.70pm, 8.86pm. Then he lets go of his arm and returns above 22 metres: 10.14pm. The four Americans who preceded him in Rabat on Sunday remain behind him. And what a spectacle the dances after the launches that satisfy him. Followed by a null, a 21.79 and a 21.17. With Kovacs at 21.87 and Crouser at 21.50, the party is all for him. We also like Francesco Pernici, 3rd in the 800 in 1’43″97, Ludovica Cavalli, a personal best in the 1500 (4’01″64), while it’s not an evening for Nadia Battocletti, 13th in 14’40″05, in the 5000 of the Ethiopian Likina Amebaw, with 14’18″41 at the best world performance in 2026. As in 110 hs the American Trey Cunningham (12″98), in the javelin the Sri Lankan Rumesh Pathirage (92.62) and in the 400 hs the Slovakian Emma Zapletalova (52″58).
the event
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It is the 46th day of the meeting in Rome, dedicated to Pietro Mennea. It is the fourth seasonal stage of the Diamond League, the first to take place in Europe. There will be 18 Italians on the track (including Nadia Battocletti, Marcell Jacobs and Andy Diaz), as well as a cast that has rarely been of this level: over 40 Olympic and world champions, and over 80 Olympic and World Championship medalists.
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