Fantastic Furlani leaps to gold medal in Tokyo

  TOKYO – Mattia Furlani is the new long jump world champion. The 20-year-old from Marino gifted Italy it’s first gold medal in the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo, reports Il Fatto Quotidiano. With thanks to the best jump of his youthful career, which was one of 8 metres and 39 centimetres.

 After winning the indoor title and a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, this victory confirms without doubt the star that is Furlani: his is the youngest gold medallist ever in the men’s long jump, better than Carl Lewis, who won his aged 22.

 A hard-earned, complete success achieved through the courage and blind confidence in one’s own talents, even when the podium seemed to constantly escape. The final in Tokyo, in fact, was one of a very high level, with five athletes making it over 8 metres.

 Before the 5th jump, Furlani was outside the medal positions and had already completed two void jumps. Then, in the pressure moment, the perfect jump, which was a new personal best and also claimed the gold: 8.39. The Italian thus left the Jamaican, Gayle, behind, who had made a great series of jumps, and took the silver with 8.34.

 Bronze for the Chinese, Shi, a surprise in the event with his jump of 8.33. Then Ehammer and Saraboyukov, whilst the Greek, Tentoglou – the favourite – seemed to be a shadow of himself, as for the whole season.

 “It is almost a magical success,” Furlani said in the spur of the moment to the microphones of RaiSport with the medal around his neck. Absolutely, something rare and precious: for Italy it is the 14th gold medal ever at the World Athletics Championships.

 The last one was achieved by Tamberi in Budapest 2023, whilst in the long jump Furlani (a Gold Flames of the State Police athlete) picks up the legacy of the mythical Fiona May, who was a long jump star, winning six medals in total (two golds), which is still the record for an Italian athlete.

 In Tokyo, thanks to Furlani, the Italian medals rise to one gold and four other wins: a new record is only a step away. And indeed, Italy jumps to sixth place in the medal rankings at the Championships, first amongst the European countries.

 “This gold is for all of Italy:” the words of Furlani. “I still can’t believe it, what happened this evening was something of a miracle.” These were the first words from Mattia Furlani to RaiSport. “We handled the event in the perfect way – he added – we believed in ourselves up until the final jump that has brought about this incredible result.”

 “Up until two years ago – he continued with his voice full of emotion – I had dreamed of it. We have worked so hard, I had the honour of having a fantastic team and I managed to repay them in the best way possible.” Furlani talked of a “magical evening, one of dreams” but also of a “bright future, we must stay fit and keep working step by step.”

 Then the thank yous: “I worked so much, thanks to my team and my family. I also want to thank myself a little, even though there is a lot of work to be done, and I hope that this is just the beginning. I do what I love to do, and it is the best thing in the world, along with the gold. Thanks to all of Italy: this gold is for all of you.”

th