Ancona, September 13, 2026 – Gimbo Tamberi never ceases to amaze. On the day when the other Italian Francesco Pernici sets the new Italian record in the 800 meters despite finishing fifth, the Olympic champion won the new world event, the Ultimate Championship in Budapest, adding another trophy to his collection.
But it is the way he did it that impresses: he jumped back 2 meters and 37 centimeters, setting the seasonal world best and then also trying to beat the Italian record, but at 2.41 the energy was not enough for yet another feat. “Thanks to all the public, to my family, they pushed me beyond my limits: how can you not jump like this with a crowd like this?” said Tamberi after the victory, celebrated with the usual somersaults, with a jump into the stands where his wife and daughter, Chiara and Camilla, were waiting for him, and with a mug of Hungarian beer poured over his head.
The amazing detail is that Tamberi jumped 2.37 at 34 years old, a mark he had not achieved since July 2016, when he set the Italian record with 2.39 under the eyes of the President of the Republic, who was already Mattarella. “They invented a new competition and it had to be won too. I knew I could achieve great marks. I am happy. Trying 2.41 I relived my entire career. For me it was an immense stimulus to try again what I felt 10 years ago with two surgeries in between. I am still here, like in my best years,” he said to Sky Sport.
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Looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028
“I really jumped what I am worth. I look to Los Angeles with hunger, determination and desire. Rome 2029? It would be wonderful… Let’s imagine a world championship in Italy. It could be wonderful to end my career there. It would be the cherry on top.” Behind him was the American JuVaughn Harrison with 2.30.
On the track it was a great evening also for Francesco Pernici, who managed to go under the 1’43 barrier in the 800 meters lowering to 1’42”67 the record that already belonged to him. The 23-year-old Italian middle-distance runner of Fiamme Gialle improved his personal best by almost a second, the 1’43”60 from last July that had erased after 53 years the record of Marcello Fiasconaro. Pernici finished fifth in Budapest, in the race won by Algerian Djamel Sedjati (1’41”91) ahead of Canadian Marco Arop (1’42”28) and Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi (1’42”44).
