Italian Indoor Championships: Fortunato Smashes World Indoor Record as Stars Shine in Ancona
The 2026 Italian Indoor Championships in Ancona delivered a weekend of historic performances and statement victories, highlighted by Francesco Fortunato’s sensational 17:54.48 in the 5000m race walk, slicing nearly 13 seconds off the long-standing world indoor record. Olympic and European medallists, national record-breakers, and rising teenage talents lit up the track and field, with Leonardo Fabbri, Dario Dester, Zaynab Dosso, and Larissa Iapichino among the standout champions in a meet that set the tone ahead of the World Indoor Championships in Toruń.
Francesco Fortunato, European bronze medallist in Rome 2024 in the 20 km, won the 5000 metres race walk with 17:54.48 at the Italian Indoor Championships in Ancona, taking almost 13 seconds off the world indoor record held by Mikhail Shennikov with 18:07.08 since 1995.
The Italian race walker clocked 17:55.65 at last year’s edition of the National Championships in the same venue.
Francesco Fortunato: “I’m satisfied with myself. I came here to try again and I didn’t give up. After the disappointment last year, I felt this was a record I deserved.”
Antonella Palmisano won the women’s 3000 metres with 11:56.74 missing her PB by one second. Sofia Fiorini broke the long-standing Italian under 23 record set by late Italian legend Annarita Sidoti since 1991. Serena Di Fabio improved her own Italian under 20 record by nine seconds to 12:31.40.
European outdoor champion Leonardo Fabbri won his seventh Italian indoor title in the men’s shot put with 21.80m in the second round, repeating the same mark in Nevizhdy three days ago. Fabbri won the World Indoor Tour competition in Lievin with 21.82m and set the world outdoor lead with 22.50m in Potchefrstroom in South Africa.
Leonardo Fabbri: “I am not completely happy with my result. I felt tired after four competitions in the past eight days. I may compete at the European Throwing Cup in Nicosia before the World Indoor Championships in Torun”
Dario Dester won his second Italian indoor title in the men’s heptathlon improving his own Italian record by 45 points to 6121. Dester set his previous national record of 6076 points at the Italian indoor Championships in Ancona in 2021.His series included 6.91 in the 60 metres, 7.48m in the long jump, 14.86m in the shot put, 1.98m in the high jump, 7.96 in the 60 metres hurdles, 4.70m in the pole vault and 2:37.69 in the 1000 metres.
Dario Dester: “The main goal was to return after two difficult years. The Italian record is a starting point. I have always believed in myself. I train in Ulm (Germany) with Christopher Hallmann.”
Christian Falocchi won the men’s high jump improving his PB by two cm to 2.30m, a qualifying standand for the World Indoor Championships in Torun. Federico Celebrin improved his PB by 2 cm to 2.25m.
Cristian Falocchi: “I jumped 2.25m in Ancona nine years ago. I had to wait many years until today, This performance means a lot for me. I had a lot of injuries. I achieved the qualifying standard for the World Indoor Championships in Torun. I want to perform well in Poland.”
Aurora Vicini won her second Italian indoor title in the women’s high jump with 1.90m.
European indoor champion and joint world leader Zaynab Dosso won the women’s 60 metres in 7.10 after clocking 7.09 in the semifinal. European under 20 champion Kelly Ann Doualla placed second in 7.21 missing her own European indoor under 18 record by two hundredths of a second.
Zaynab Dosso: “It was a difficult competition because I did not feel well the day before the competition. I did most of the training. I just have to remain calm before the World Indoor Championships.”
Filippo Randazzo won his first Italian indoor title in the 60 metres with 6.61 edging European indoor champion Samuele Ceccarelli by just two thousandths of a second. Randazzo had previously won seven Italian outdoor titles in the long jump.
Larissa Iapichino won her fifth Italian indoor title with 6.78m in the second round.
World silver medallist Andrea Dallavalle won the men’s triple jump with 16.99m on the first round. World and European indoor champion Andy Diaz placed second with 16.90m.
Elisa Di Lazzaro won a very close women’s 60 metres hurdles final in 8.06 edging Giada Carmassi by just two thousandths of a second. Seventeen-year-old Alessia Succo improved Di Lazzaro’s Italian under 20 indoor record to 8.08 over senior height hurdles (84 cm) in both the heats and final. Succo also improved the European under 18 record and set the seventh fastest European under 20 indoor time, missing Grace Stark’s world under 18 record by three hundredths of a second.
Eloisa Coiro won the women’s 400 metres with her indoor PB of 52.02 moving to third on the Italian indoor all-time list.
European 110 metres hurdles champion Lorenzo Simonelli won his third Italian indoor title in the men’s 60 metres hurdles with 7.60.
Gabriele Chilà won the men’s long jump with 8.00m equalling his PB for the fourth time in his career.
Italian indoor record holder Federico Riva won a tactical men’s 1500 metres in 3:59.34 holding off Pietro Arese (3:59.81). Riva completed the double by winning the 3000 metres in 7:45.25.
Riva’s girlfriend Ludovica Cavalli won a slow and tactical women’s 1500 metres title in 4.28.22 and the 3000 metres in 8:51.38.
European under 23 champion Simone Bertelli won his second Italian indoor title by one cm to 5.63m in the men’s pole vault.
