Karsten Warholm and Gianmarco Tamberi were two standout stars on day five in Rome at the European Athletic Championships. GETTY IMAGES

Karsten Warholm, Gianmarco Tamberi, and Kevin Mayer headed up just some of the star-studded names on show for day five of the European Athletics Championships in Rome. The competition continued to deliver a spectacle, priming athletes for the forthcoming Paris Olympics, starting on 26 July.

Among those was Norway's Warholm, who sent a strong message to Olympic contenders ahead of the Games by clinching his third consecutive European title in the Italian capital. The 28-year-old, Olympic champion and three-time world gold medalist, secured the victory with a time of 46.98 seconds.

"I felt strong and I was in control," said Warholm. "Now it's back to training and keep on pushing. This is a good step on the road but this is more to build confidence and get the gold medal. In Paris I'll try to be as sharp as possible."

It was the first of four stunning championship records on a thrilling night of track and field at the Stadio Olimpico. The raucous atmosphere was electrified by a large, flag-waving crowd, many of whom were cheering passionately for Team Italy captain Gianmarco Tamberi in the high jump, with the country's President Sergio Mattarella also in attendance.


Norway's Karsten Warholm secured his third consecutive European title in Rome. GETTY IMAGES
Norway's Karsten Warholm secured his third consecutive European title in Rome. GETTY IMAGES


In his typical fashion, the Italian left the left half of his face unshaved. Quieting the roaring crowd assembled behind the jumping arena, Tamberi cleared his opening attempt of 2.22m to thunderous applause. Encountering a couple of stumbles at 2.29m and then 2.33m, he took a risk and opted to bypass them. His gamble paid off as Tamberi proceeded to secure his third European title with a championship record leap of 2.37m, showcasing his superior skill compared to the rest of the competitors.

"I knew I was in a superb shape and I proved it," said Tamberi. "I was a bit shaky a 2.29m, but then the show began. I did great things: now it's time for the Olympics." Nadia Battocletti's double gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m thrilled the crowd, propelling Italy to the top of the medal table with 10 golds. 

Estonia's Johannes Erm secured his first senior outdoor title in the decathlon, while Switzerland's Mujinga Kambundji narrowly won the 200m sprint. Austria celebrated their first gold as Victoria Hudson triumphed in the women's javelin.

However, the standout performance of the night arguably came in the exhilarating men's triple jump competition. Defending champion Pedro Pichardo, the Olympic and 2022 world champion, set a new Portuguese record with a leap of 18.04 metres, surpassing Briton Jonathan Edwards' previous championship best of 17.99 metres.


Team Italy captain Gianmarco Tamberi won the men's high-jump on home soil at the Stadio Olimpico. GETTY IMAGES
Team Italy captain Gianmarco Tamberi won the men's high-jump on home soil at the Stadio Olimpico. GETTY IMAGES



Spain's Jordan Alejandro Diaz Fortun responded with a massive 18.18m on his penultimate jump. This winning distance ranks as the third longest in history, with only Jonathan Edwards' 18.29m world record from 1995 and Christian Taylor of the USA surpassing it. 

Returning to the hurdles, Dutch standout Femke Bol secured her second women's title in 52.49 seconds, setting yet another championship record. The 24-year-old athlete, who also clinched bronze as part of the 4x400m mixed relay, sets her sights on adding another gold in the women's 4x400m relay scheduled for Wednesday.

"I worked hard for these championships and I arrived here in good shape," Bol said. "I believe I can be even better at the Olympics."