Gianmarco Tamberi Named European Athlete of the Year

Gianmarco Tamberi has been named European Athlete of the Year, marking the first time an Italian track and field athlete has received the top honor from the continental governing body. The award was presented at the annual ‘Golden Tracks’ ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Tamberi Beats Duplantis and Tentoglou for Continental Crown

To secure the award, Tamberi edged out a competitive field of elite champions in their respective disciplines. The Italian surpassed Armand Duplantis and two-time Olympic long jump champion Miltiadis Tentoglou.

Reflecting on his milestone year, which included winning the European title in Birmingham, Tamberi described the campaign as incredible. “Winning the gold at the Europeans on the day of my daughter’s first birthday was crazy,” Tamberi said. He pointed to the shift in mindset following Italy’s five gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics as a catalyst for the nation’s rising success.

Stefano Mei Praises Tamberi for His Resilience

FIDAL President Stefano Mei lauded the athlete’s persistence following a challenging start to the year. “It is the well-deserved recognition for an athlete who never ceases to surprise us,” Mei said, noting that turning a difficult start into a championship masterpiece in Birmingham and Budapest is a feat reserved for true greats.

Looking ahead to the upcoming Olympic cycle, Tamberi expressed confidence in the depth of Italian athletics. Pointing toward Los Angeles, he suggested that the younger generation of Italian competitors is even stronger and ready to test their limits on the global stage.

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