Athletics: three jumps into gold for Andy Diaz, Italy immediately on the podium at the indoor World Championships

The first medal for the Azzurri at the World Athletics Championships in Torun comes from the triple jump. Today in Poland, after Nanjing, Andy Diaz has indeed confirmed himself as world champion in the triple jump, triumphing with a mark of 17.47, the best world performance of the year.

THE COMPETITION

A dance that is a wonder, Andy Diaz, the Italian-Cuban, student of Fabrizio Donato, immediately clarifies his intentions already in the first round of the direct final, giving away only 3.7 cm to the take-off board and directing the competition with a masterful jump, confirming he is from another planet and even without improving (16.91-17.08-foul) he maintains the crown. Last year in Nanjing it was March 21: 364 days later, Diaz 'dances' again on the highest step of the podium at the indoor World Championships, a gold won in the triple jump previously only by Paolo Camossi in Lisbon in 2001. In the 21 editions of the event, only one other Italian athlete, Gennaro Di Napoli, had celebrated two titles: also for him consecutive, in the 3000 meters in 1993 and 1995. In seventh place was the outdoor world vice-champion Andrea Dallavalle with 16.90.

 Andy Diaz wins gold in the triple jump at the World Championships for the second consecutive time

"I AM LIKE ANTONELLI AND SINNER"

"We are a winning Italy, a few days ago Antonelli won, then Sinner, athletics could not fall behind. I pushed, I did my best." This was stated by Andy Diaz, gold medalist at the indoor world championships in athletics in Torun, in Poland.

"No fear ever, the first jump was very easy, I had an exceptional preparation, the others then left it to me like this, it couldn't have gone better. Blue brings me luck, I am very happy, I always thank the people who helped me, coming here with the intention of taking the title was not easy. Two weeks ago we didn't want to come, but we said 'let's give it a try', now it's a celebration. We are ready to defend the blue jersey also in Birmingham, referring to the upcoming Europeans."

Andy Diaz in action (Photo Grana/Fidal)

After a good performance in the heats (3rd in 6"63), the Etnean Filippo Randazzo stops in the semifinals of the 60 meters (6"66) and the same fate befalls the other blue athlete Samuele Ceccarelli, with a seasonal personal best: 6"61.

The Etnean Filippo Randazzo in action

Tomorrow, Italy will continue to dream with the hurdler Lorenzo Simonelli aiming for the final of the 60 meters and in the 60 meters event Zaynab Dozzo, after winning bronze and silver in the previous two indoor world championships, is chasing gold and starts with the best time of the year (6"99) and will have by her side the youngest member of the Italian team, the sixteen-year-old Kelly Doualla.

In the final of the 3000 meters, the queen of distance Nadia Battocletti will compete; she is not among the favorites, but the extraordinary Trentino long-distance runner, who has been on the podium in the 5,000 and 10,000 at the Olympics and European Championships, is capable of anything.

Today, the blue middle-distance runners also took the spotlight. The 800-meter runner Eloisa Coiro, despite having a fever in recent days and the postponement of her trip to Poland (she arrived only the day before), managed to win her heat in 1'59"87, just 11 hundredths off her indoor personal best, while Laura Pellicoro was eliminated (2'01"99).

Federico Riva in action in the 1500 meters, final on Sunday

Tomorrow, Coiro will return to compete in the semifinals, while in the 1500 meters, Ludovica Cavalli (4'16"54) and Federico Riva (3'40"52) have qualified for the two finals on Sunday, while Marta Zenoni (4'13"17) and Pietro Arese (3'40"91) are out.