Two golds to dream big in Paris

The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarellabroke official protocol and visited the Rome Olympic Stadium to enjoy athletics, something that cannot be done for safety reasons. “I broke the regulations, but I assure you it was worth it,” said the Italian president, impressed by what he saw on his first visit. An example of a passion where the italians their Europeanswhere they swept the medal table with the total number 24 medals and 11 gold, more than double the second country in the tablethat of France and away from Spain, which was left with eight metals and two golds.

In this European Championship in Rome they fought 47 national records, 256 personal bests and a total of 147 medals were distributed. Furthermore, the Olympic Stadium in Rome was never completely full on any day – with a capacity for 77,000 spectators – but over the six days of competition 137,000 spectators attended. The Italian television broadcast peaked on Wednesday night, with the 4×100 relay, peaking at 4.7 million viewers on RAI and Sky Sport. In Germany they reach 4.1 million and in France 1.8 million, fantastic numbers that prove that world athletics continues to have its biggest fan base in the ‘Old Continent’.

With respect to Spainthe performance of the National Team athletes followed the line of previous years with eight medals (two gold, three silver and three bronze) and a sum of 29 finalist positions -first eight-. This means that 40% of the team has reached a very high level. Also, this European Championship coincides with the Paris 2024 Games and most athletes do not focus their preparation on this championship.

Exactly, on an Olympic key, Spain came out with two very good news. The golds of Ana Peleteiro and Jordan Díaz They can translate to metals in Paris, two real options that add to the powerful marching teams that will be officially presented this Friday and will have 9 medals at stake.

Álvaro Martín and María Péreztwo-time world champion in Budapest 2023, will lead a team that will also have Paul McGrathwho was revealed in this European Championship as the great jewel of the national race with his silver in the 20km and the potential makes him a contender for everything in the French capital. Laura Garcia-Carowho accidentally lost the bronze at the finish line, and Cristina Montesinosfifth in Rome, showed that they have the level to aspire to be very high in the Games.

“I wouldn’t say it was a bad championship, but I wouldn’t be satisfied either.”admitted the Spanish coach Pepe Peiro new media. “I expected a little more,” he said with resignation. “We had performances that were below expectations, too many,” he said, indicating that there were Spaniards who arrived at the top of the European ranking of the year and did not get a medal, as in the case of Thierry Ndikumwenayo in the 5,000m, where he was fifth.

“We talked to them and some of them know how to bring it back when they get a second chance,” the coach explained, referring to the bronze that Ndikumwenoyo himself achieved in his second event, the 10,000m. “There are people like Guillem Crespí who surprised us. Also Quique Llopis,” Peiró added as positive notes. The next major event for Spanish athletes is the La Nucía National from June 28 to 30, where the team that will travel to the Games will be finalized.