Italian runner Kelly Doualla added another historic achievement to her extraordinary young career by winning the bronze medal in the women’s 100 meters at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
At only 16, the Italian sprinter competed against athletes up to 3 years older and crossed the finish line in 11.27 seconds, with a slight headwind of –0.1 meters per second.
American Mia Maxwell captured gold in 11.14, while Jamaica’s Shanoya Douglas earned silver in 11.17. Doualla’s third-place finish made her the first Italian woman ever to win a 100-meter medal at a World Athletics Championship in any age category – senior, U20, or U18.
The athlete from Pavia had already demonstrated her composure throughout the competition at Hayward Field. She ran 11.35 in the opening round before winning her semifinal in 11.36, becoming the first Italian woman in 30 years to reach a World U20 100-meter final.
Doualla entered the championships after a remarkable performance at the European U18 Championships in Rieti in July. She won the continental title in 11.14, improving her own European U18 best and Italian U20 record. That time also placed her among the fastest Italian women in history.
Born in Pavia to parents of Cameroonian origin and raised in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Doualla represents CUS Pro Patria Milano and trains under Walter Monti. Her rise has been exceptionally rapid – in 2025, she won European U20 gold in both the 100 meters and 4×100-meter relay.
The Eugene bronze confirms that Doualla is no longer simply a promising teenager. She is already one of Italy’s most important sprinting talents.
