Italy closed out the European U20 Athletics Championships in style, topping the overall medal table and confirming its place as a powerhouse in youth athletics. The Azzurri finished with an impressive 14 medals: 6 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze - eight of them earned in just two hours on the final day of competition.

The highlight of the afternoon came in the women’s 4×100 relay, where Alice Pagliarini, Elisa Valensin, Margherita Castellani, and 15-year-old sensation Kelly Doualla delivered a record-breaking performance. Running the anchor leg, Doualla stormed down the final straight, passing her rivals with explosive speed to secure the gold.

The team’s winning time of 43.72 seconds not only demolished the Italian U20 record but also marked the fourth-fastest time ever recorded in Europe for this age category. Doualla’s individual split - 10.30 seconds - was extraordinary for any sprinter, let alone one not yet 16.

But the 4×100 was only part of Italy’s golden surge. On the track and in the field, Italian athletes collected victories that cemented the nation’s dominance. The men’s 4×100 squad matched the women’s achievement with gold of their own, while standout individual performances included wins in the men’s triple jump, the women’s high jump, and the men’s 1500 meters. Italy also added key silvers in the men’s decathlon, women’s long jump, and women’s 400 meters, along with bronzes across multiple sprint, middle-distance, and field events.

This championship was more than a medal count - it was a showcase of Italy’s depth and balance in youth athletics, from sprint relays to technical disciplines. With records falling and young stars like Doualla making international headlines, the future looks bright for Italian track and field.

If this weekend’s performance is any indication, Italy’s next generation is ready to take on - and beat - the best in the world.