English
The countdown is over for the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea, set to take place on Thursday, June 4, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Some of the most awaited stars took center stage during the pre-meeting press conference, building anticipation ahead of the 46th edition of the event, fourth stop of Wanda Diamond League.
Stefano Mei (Italian Athletics Federation President): “I believe this can probably be considered the greatest edition of the Golden Gala ever, given the number of medallists and champions who will be competing. Ticket sales confirm that excitement—demand has been very strong, and we are expecting a large crowd. The best welcome we can offer everyone will come tomorrow evening, when the competition begins at the Olympic Stadium.”
Marco Sicari (Meeting Director): “I’m proud and it’s a joy for us. The fact that athletes of this level are here in Rome means that we are been doing what we could to have the best show. Now the last cherry on the cake will be the audience, we expect to have a great atmosphere. There are many challenges in such an event, the main one is the calendar at the moment, also a city like Rome that offers every day a lot of different entertainment occasions. Tomorrow in the afternoon a lot of youngsters will compete before the meeting, this is very important. Our main point is to promote athletics in the country and support promotion of athletics worldwide.”
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (200m): “The main thing is always be healthy, then if there are still some things left on the table is to just build up the best of your potential. Practice in training has been going great, this last month I have been able to really see my improvement not only taking the word of my coach but just being able to see it for myself. I want to stay in whatever moment that I’m in, but once I achieve the things that I have, I tend not to stay in those moments and I think that I got ready for what’s to come. That was my biggest lesson that I’ve learned and I’ve been having fun. I’ve been blessed with a lot of opportunities off the track, I’m grateful and ready to be back to compete. When it comes to starting to appear more in the circuit, I wouldn’t say that I haven’t been looking towards Diamond League final, but I take one meet at time and see where things end up. This will be an off year, I have already a bye into the Ultimate Championship, it allows for me to be able to do things more freely.”
Julien Alfred (200m): “If one year doesn’t go well, especially like last year didn’t go how I wanted to at the World Championships, you work on something different but I just keep everything the same and I’m always going to work hard, no matter what. This season I wanted to open up very early, one month ago, to see what I had to work on before to start the Diamond League but I’m satisfied with where I’m at now and just looking forward to getting better each race. There have been a lot of changes in Saint Lucia, I try to go back at least once a month, being with my family as much as possible because I left since I was 14 to be on my own and chasing my dreams.”
Noah Lyles (100m): “This is my first off season since 2018. I just realise none of you all were running professional in 2018… I’m old! I’m just here to have fun, I went back to Japan recently and I haven’t been in Rome since 2019 then I will go in Ostrava in a few weeks, in July maybe at the Nationals in US. There’s no pressure, I can just run where I want run. It’s not a situation of having to peak at a certain time. It’s just as soon we’re ready to run fast, let’s find a meet and let’s run. I’ve never come to a track meet and not gone all in. If I show up, I’m ready to run. My coach said I’m in 9.85 shape so I can expect 9.85 or better for tomorrow. Me and Jordan Anthony have been having some immaculate training sessions, just to see where we are. I’m debating if this is the best shape I’ve been in my life or if I’m at where I was during the Olympic season but I’m seeing some really good things, having a good training partner definitely helps.”
Letsile Tebogo (100m): “The 2025 was an off year, because I wasn’t at my best mentally and physically, even though we made it into each and every final. But I believe we needed that break, as much as people didn’t know how much did we have to go through for that Olympic gold medal. I believe now until 2028 it’s all about having fun up until we decide when to leave the sport. It’s just to build up the momentum, getting the right start and body form, everything right throghout these Diamond League meetings. At the World Relays in Gaborone we won the 4x400m with a young team and we still have a long way to go as a team. That world record it’s soon going to be broken, we just missed it but shaped how athletes have looked into athletics in Botswana, also the 4x100m relay qualified so everybody is excited.”
Ryan Crouser (shot put): “I’m happy to be here, excited to compete against a fantastic field with Leonardo Fabbri, I feel like I’m trending upwards. It’s a fantastic stadium, the most beautiful warm-up track in the world that has so much history. I haven’t had a fantastic start to the year but to see new season’s best is good, just gaining confidence it feels like a refreshing start. I think 24 metres is possible, there are so many variables that go into a throw, you have to be in good shape physically, confident mentally and you need the technique. The pieces can all be there but you have to put them together. Now shot put is at such a high level, the athletes are technically much more proficient than when I started professionally. It’s a competition where anyone can win. It’s been quite a stretch since 2021, even longer than four years. I’ll been doing my honeymoon, we moved to Nashville this past year, also setting up a new training center. Still the focus is 2028 even in 2026, the second half of my career, so the horizon stretches out a litte bit farther.”
Leonardo Fabbri (shot put): “That would be special to throw 23 metres, but I did 22m only in February so I must throw 22m and then chase 23m for the rest of the season. I plan to be in the best shape for the European Championships in Birmingham, just struggling a little bit with technique but hopefully it’s getting better now. I’m living day by day without thinking much about the next Olympics, of course I’m still upset for what happened in Paris but it’s important to be better every day. I feel capable of the European Record. I hope also there will be a space in future for Diamond League in my hometown Florence.”
Keely Hodgkinson (400m): “I’m just going to take week by week, splitting the season in two halves with Diamond League until London then the Euros and the Ultimate Championship. It’s a really exciting year, I’m happy with where I am and I’m enjoying everything. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to race some of the best girls in the world so I’m hoping they pull something great out of me. You got to respect everyone, but obviously I’m competitive. I will be using tomorrow as a stimulus of fun to also do something different. I’ve wanted to work on my 400m speed but I’ve been unable to do that with some injuries, so I feel like this is the first time in about two years that I’ve putted an actual bit of 400m block work, it’s a personal challenge but it will help me towards my 800m. I’m really looking forward to 2028 Olympics. I love what I do, if I say one thing I’d probably like to be undefeated in the 800m this year.”
Nadia Battocletti (5000m): “It was though, last week I’ve had flu but now it’s ok. The Golden Gala is an opportunity for me and for all Italian fans, I’m so happy to be here and in healthy shape. Tomorrow the race will be really fast. It’s important to focus any season in one important goal, every season became super busy especially for me, doing cross country, indoor and road races, it’s something difficult but if you have a staff that support you it’s better. My ambition for this year is the European Championships in Birmingham and then the European cross country.”
