The first title at the Roma European Athletics Championships in was won by the hosts. The Olympic champion in the 20km sport walk from Tokyo and winner of two world bronze medals Antonella Palmisano convincingly won the European gold with a time of 1:28:09 hours to the delight of her fans in the Stadio Olimpico.
The home team’s triumph in the discipline was completed by Valentina Trapletti, who achieved a personal record of 1:28:37 hours for the silver medal.
There was incredible drama in the last meters for the bronze award. Laura Garcia-Caro (Spain) finished with the national flag around her neck and was already seen as a sure bronze medalist, but in the last meters was attached by Lyudmyla Olyanovska (Ukraine), and both finished with equal times of 1:28:48 hours.
Camille Moutard (France) remained fifth with 1:28:55 hours.
