Nadia Battocletti was unbeatable. © ANSA / TOLGA AKMEN

Battocletti's burst of speed astonished the sports world.

With her second gold medal at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Nadia Battocletti from Trentino underlined her exceptional status. After the 10.000-meter race, the entire sporting world marveled at the athlete from Cavareno.

August 15, 2026

From: leo

Italy's track and field stars experienced a truly stellar performance on Friday evening. Besides high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi, also... Nadia Battocletti to gold. The way in which the 26-year-old left her competitors standing caused a sensation both at home and abroad.

The video of Battocletti sprinting away in the final 200 meters has been viewed millions of times on social media. "As if she were riding off on a motorcycle," one user wrote. "Like an elegant gazelle," commented another. Italian sports newspapers also dedicated their front pages to the athlete from Trentino, as well as to Tamberi and the swimmer Simona Quadarella, who also won the race.

The Italian's impressive start can also be explained in numbers: After completing 25 laps on the Birmingham oval, she ran the final 200 meters in 28,2 seconds. This is particularly impressive because Switzerland's Audrey Werro, who won the 800 meters with a European Championship record, was a full second slower in the final 200 meters. The runner-up behind Battocletti, Maureen Koster of the Netherlands, was even four seconds slower over this short distance.

The Olympics are the ultimate long-term goal

For the track and field athlete, the European Championships in Birmingham ended once again with a double victory in the 5.000 and 10.000 meters. The silver medalist from the Paris Olympics had already achieved the same feat at the 2024 European Championships in Rome. Her sights are now set on Los Angeles, where in two years she aims to once again challenge the seemingly insurmountable competition from Africa and crown herself Olympic champion for the first time.