Italy enjoyed a remarkable Tuesday, August 11, at the 2026 European Championships, collecting six medals across athletics and swimming and confirming its strength at the continental level.
In Birmingham, Nadia Battocletti successfully defended her European 5,000-meter title, winning gold in 15:37.84. The Italian distance star produced a controlled race before unleashing a decisive finishing kick. It was her sixth European title, adding another chapter to an already extraordinary career. Battocletti also holds the European Championships record for the 5,000 meters, a spectacular 14:35.29 set in Rome in 2024.
Italy celebrated another podium in the same race through Micol Majori, who earned a superb bronze medal. Her performance created an Italian double on the 5,000-meter podium and underlined the depth of the national distance-running program.
In Paris, meanwhile, Italian swimmers produced four medals. Nicolò Martinenghi captured gold in the men's 100-meter breaststroke in 58.58 seconds. The Olympic champion returned to the top of the European podium, while teammate Simone Cerasuolo completed an Italian one-two-three assault with bronze in 58.90. Martinenghi's time was a major championship performance, although it did not break the European record.
Simona Quadarella added another gold in the women's 800-meter freestyle, touching in 8:15.55. It was her fourth European title in the event and her ninth European gold medal overall. Her time came just 0.01 seconds outside the championship record, while her own European record stands at 8:12.81.
Finally, Sara Curtis won bronze in the women's 100-meter freestyle. The young Italian continues to establish herself among Europe's best sprinters and already owns the Italian long-course record of 52.69 seconds.
Six medals in one day—three gold and three bronze—made Tuesday a spectacular showcase of Italian talent, consistency, and ambition.
