On June 12, the European Athletics Championships in Rome 2024 concluded after 6 days of competitions, with the host country, Italy, emerging as the dominant force, securing 24 medals.
Around 70,000 spectators gathered at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to witness the local team’s final victory, winning the men’s 4×100 meters relay, the event that closed the continental championship.
The Italians thus concluded the best European Championships in their history with 11 golds, 9 silvers, and 4 bronzes.
Among the main figures who led Italy to the top were sprinter Marcell Jacobs, the current Olympic champion in the 100 meters, who won 2 gold medals in the 100m and 4x100m; long-distance runner Nadia Batocletti, who won in the 5,000m and 10,000m; and Ethiopian-born runner Yemaneberhan Crippa, who claimed double gold in the individual and team half marathon.
France took second place in the medal table, finishing the European Championships with 16 medals (4 golds, 5 silvers, 7 bronzes), followed by Great Britain with 13 medals (4 golds, 4 silvers, 5 bronzes).
Spain, meanwhile, finished in eighth position with 8 medals. Spain’s only 2 golds came from the triple jump, thanks to the spectacular performances of debutant Jordan Díaz and Olympic bronze medalist Ana Peleteiro.
Other standout athletes of the championship included Dutch runner Femke Bol, who won 2 golds in the 400m hurdles and the women’s 4x400m relay, and a silver in the mixed 4x400m relay, and Norwegian Jacob Ingebrigtsen, who achieved his third consecutive double in the 1,500m and 5,000m.
British athlete Dina Asher-Smith and Belgian Alexander Doom also had outstanding performances, each winning 2 golds, while Irish athlete Rhasidat Adeleke claimed one gold and two silvers.
In the points classification, Italy finished first with 232 points, France second with 193, and Germany third with 163 points.
The European Championships in Rome also saw over 50 records broken, including world, continental, national, and championship records.
Italian Mattia Furlani set a new world U20 record in the men’s long jump with a mark of 8.38 meters.
