Turin, 9 Aug. (LaPresse) – “Fortunately, I’m the man to beat. I’ve tried to do a lot of meditation, to stay in the present rather than thinking about the future, which causes anxiety. I like the platform; I tried it out this morning and it gives me confidence. I can’t wait to be out there and throw it as far as I can.” So said Leonardo Fabbri, reigning European champion and World Championships bronze medallist in the shot put, and this year’s world leader, on the eve of the European Athletics Championships. Tomorrow he faces a double header: the qualifying round in the late morning, followed by the final in the evening. “I want to achieve the 20.60 metres needed to go straight through to the final on my very first attempt. A throw of 20.90 might even be enough for a medal, as it was at Rome 2024. To win, I’ll probably need just over 21 metres or perhaps 21.50,” he added. “The competition? I’m dreaming of an all-Italian trio on the podium, starting with my training partner Zane Weir. Keep an eye on Britain’s Scott Lincoln, who’s consistently around the 21-metre mark. Then there’s Poland’s Konrad Bukowiecki, who’s been struggling with an elbow problem but is improving.”
European Athletics Championships, Fabbri: “I’m the man to beat; I’m dreaming of an all-Italian podium”
Turin, 9 Aug. (LaPresse) – “Fortunately, I’m the man to beat. I’ve tried to do a lot of meditation, to stay in the present rather than thinking about the future, which causes anxiety. I like the platform; I tried it out this morning and it gives me confidence. I can’t wait to be out there and throw it as far as I can.” So said Leonardo Fabbri, reigning European champion and World Championships bronze medallist in the shot put, and this year’s world leader, on the eve of the European Athletics Championships. Tomorrow he faces a double header: the qualifying round in the late morning, followed by the final in the evening. “I want to achieve the 20.60 metres needed to go straight through to the final on my very first attempt. A throw of 20.90 might even be enough for a medal, as it was at Rome 2024. To win, I’ll probably need just over 21 metres or perhaps 21.50,” he added. “The competition? I’m dreaming of an all-Italian trio on the podium, starting with my training partner Zane Weir. Keep an eye on Britain’s Scott Lincoln, who’s consistently around the 21-metre mark. Then there’s Poland’s Konrad Bukowiecki, who’s been struggling with an elbow problem but is improving.”