The flagbearer of Italy at the next Olympics Games Gianmarco Tamberi is ready to light up the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, scheduled from 7 to 12 June at the Olympic Stadium and the Foro Italico Park. “I must win and confirm the gold medal I won two years ago,” said the Italian captain who was chosen together with the fencer Arianna Errigo as the representative of Italian sport in the ceremony to be held in Paris on July 26th.
The European Championships in Rome will be more than a test before Paris for Tamberi, who is the actual Olympic, World and European champion and is determined to become the first athlete in history to triumph in two consecutive editions of the Olympics in the high jump, but also to confirm the European record after winning already in Amsterdam 2016 and Munich 2022.
The European Championships in Italy and the embrace of the public, always enthusiastic about his spirit as a showman in the competition, will be able to give him the right push and extra energy, “even if I won’t be in full shape yet. The magic of the Olimpico will be able to help me even where my preparation doesn’t reach” explains Tamberi.
The date to keep in mind for Rome 2024 is Tuesday 11 June, when the high jump men final will take place at 8.35pm. But all the fans attending the Olympic Stadium will already be able to see him in action on the morning of Sunday 9 June, from 11.35 am, in the qualifying round (tickets on sale here).
‘Gimbo‘ Tamberi completed a unique collection of gold medals at the Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships: during his career he won Olympics, World Athletics Championships, European Athletics Championships, World Athletics Indoor Championships and European Athletics Indoor Championships. He also added two Diamond League titles.
There is a long love story between Tamberi and the Olympic Stadium which is confirmed year after year: the last time, at the ‘Golden Gala Pietro Mennea’ Diamond League meeting, two seasons ago, he put on a show near the Curva Sud stands, between jumps, selfies with fans and autographs. He have always considered the Olympic Stadium as one of his favorite venue. At the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships he will also have the opportunity to break a negative streak: he has never managed to win at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea meeting in the four editions held at the Olympic Stadium in Rome (he finished second in 2020, third in 2016 and 2022, fourth in 2019) and he will not want to miss the opportunity next june.
Furthermore, the Italian star, who will turn 32 on 1 June, will return to compete in Italy after two years: he will be missing from the Italian Athletics Championships held in Rieti in June 2022. One more reason to return to see him live.
Credit photo: Colombo\FIDAL
