7 November 2025 The countdown is on: 91 days to go until the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, and Europe’s new generation of winter athletes is ready to step into the spotlight.
After years of groundwork through the European Youth Olympic Festivals (EYOF) in Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2023 and Bakuriani 2025, the continent approaches these Games with depth, confidence and clear signs of renewal.
Italy’s Stage, Europe’s Moment
Milano-Cortina will bring together two worlds — the modern urban pulse of Milan and the Alpine heritage of Cortina d’Ampezzo — in a format that aims to be sustainable, connected and inclusive. The Arena di Verona will host the closing ceremony, adding a touch of history and culture to a Games that symbolise both Italian excellence and European unity.
🏔️ From Friuli-Venezia Giulia to Bakuriani: The Pathway to the Podium
Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2023: Foundations of the Future
The EYOF in Friuli-Venezia Giulia launched this new cycle of talent. Young Europeans excelled in traditional and emerging disciplines — alpine skiing, biathlon, freestyle and snowboard — setting benchmarks that would carry into their national teams. Nations like Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Norway and France refined their youth systems there, turning promise into structure.
Bakuriani 2025: Confirmation of the Rebuild
In Bakuriani (Georgia), the next chapter unfolded. The 2025 EYOF showcased the evolution of that same generation — more technical, more adaptable, and more competitive than ever. Under challenging conditions, Europe dominated once again, confirming the depth of its development networks from the Alps to the Caucasus.
🌍 Gangwon 2024: European Excellence on a Global Stage
At the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon (South Korea), Europe’s young athletes took control of the medal tables. From Switzerland and Austria to France, Italy and Germany, the continent’s talent shone across alpine skiing, Nordic combined and biathlon. Those results were not isolated successes — they were a preview of what’s to come in 2026.
Gangwon became proof that Europe’s youth development programmes are not only consistent but world-leading, producing athletes ready to win on any stage.
⚡ The New DNA of European Winter Sport
This new generation brings a distinctive identity:
Multi-skilled: blending classical technique with freestyle creativity.
Data-driven: training with technology, analytics and mental preparation.
Internationally experienced: accustomed to Olympic settings before their senior debut.
They represent a Europe that competes with imagination and confidence — one that no longer waits for the future but builds it actively through structure and opportunity.
🔜 Towards Milano-Cortina 2026
As teams finalise their rosters and test events wrap up, Milano-Cortina is set to be a showcase of continuity and renewal. The athletes who grew through Friuli-Venezia and Bakuriani, and triumphed in Gangwon, will arrive not as newcomers — but as the face of a new European era in winter sport.
Europe’s next champions are no longer on the horizon. They are already here.
3 November 2025 | With less than a year to go before the start of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the countdown has begun for an event that will mark a turning point in Olympic history — the first-ever Olympic Games to be held on African soil.
Under the motto “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates”, Senegal is getting ready to host more than 2,700 young athletes aged between 15 and 18, who will compete across 25 sports and 151 events from 31 October to 13 November 2026.
🌍 Three cities, one Olympic dream
The Games will take place across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly, three interconnected hubs currently undergoing rapid development. The Stade du Sénégal in Diamniadio will serve as the heart of the event, hosting the opening ceremony and most athletics and team sport competitions. On the coast, Saly will welcome emerging disciplines such as coastal rowing (Beach Sprints) and surfing, while central Dakar will come alive with breaking, basketball 3×3 and sport climbing.
🏅 A youthful, balanced and diverse programme
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed Dakar 2026 will maintain its inclusive spirit, ensuring full gender equality and introducing new disciplines designed to resonate with younger audiences. Sports such as breaking, skateboarding and sport climbing will share the stage with Olympic classics including athletics, swimming, judo and rugby sevens. In addition, the programme will feature 10 “mobilisation sports”, non-medal events aimed at encouraging local participation and spreading the Olympic spirit beyond competition.
🏗 Preparations progressing steadily
Preparations are advancing according to the master plan approved by the IOC and the Senegalese Organising Committee. The Venue Master Plan has been finalised, with new facilities and refurbishments designed to leave a lasting legacy:
Modernisation of Iba Mar Diop Stadium in Dakar.
Construction of a new international aquatic centre in Diamniadio.
Major road and transport improvements linking the three host cities.
The President of the Organising Committee, Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, said:
“Dakar 2026 will not only be a celebration of sport but an opportunity to showcase Africa’s talent and hospitality to the world.”
🧒 Beyond sport: legacy and youth
Dakar 2026 aims to go far beyond competition. Its legacy programmes include education, sustainability and youth training initiatives, with more than 400 young Senegalese currently being trained in event management and sports administration. The concept of “Teranga”, Senegal’s renowned culture of hospitality, will be a defining feature for athletes, volunteers and visitors alike.
⏱ The clock is ticking
During the “One Year to Go” celebration held in October, organisers unveiled the official mascot, Ayo — a young lion symbolising the energy, optimism and strength of Africa’s youth. The event featured live music, traditional dance and heartfelt messages from aspiring Senegalese athletes dreaming of competing on home soil.
🗣 A global celebration of the future
With just 12 months to go, the Olympic spirit is already palpable across Africa. The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games promise not only a world-class sporting spectacle but also a powerful message of unity, equality and hope.
Jakarta, Indonesia – October 27, 2025 | Europe delivered a strong, determined performance at the 53rd World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, held in Jakarta from October 19 to 25. Although Asian and American gymnasts captured most of the gold medals, European nations once again proved their class, precision, and resilience — earning podiums and finals that reaffirm the continent’s global standing.
🥇The United Kingdom leads the European charge
Team GB was the standout performer for Europe in Jakarta, securing a total of five medals (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze).
The star of the competition was Jake Jarman, who delivered a sensational routine on floor exercise to claim gold with 14.866 points. His teammate Luke Whitehouse followed closely with silver, giving Britain an unprecedented one-two finish.
Jarman continued his fine form in vault, where he added another silver, while Courtney Tulloch earned bronze on still rings, and Alice Kinsella closed Britain’s tally with bronze on balance beam.
“It’s a great moment for British gymnastics,” said Jarman. “We’re showing that Europe can be on top — and that our generation can lead the way to Paris 2028.”
These results mark one of the best world championships in British history and confirm Team GB as the leading European program in artistic gymnastics.
🥈Turkey makes history in rings
Turkish gymnastics continues to rise thanks to Adem Asil, who claimed silver on still rings with a score of 14.566. His powerful strength elements and controlled dismount earned Turkey its first world medal since 2023, underlining the country’s growing consistency at elite level.
Head coach Suat Çelik noted: “Adem’s medal shows that Turkey is not an outsider anymore — we are now part of Europe’s leading nations.”
🥉A breakthrough for Switzerland
Switzerland celebrated a historic achievement as Noe Seifert captured the bronze medal in the men’s all-around final. His balanced performance across all six apparatuses placed him behind Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto and China’s Zhang Boheng — a remarkable result that revived Swiss gymnastics on the world stage.
🥉Ukraine returns to the podium
Ukraine also joined the European medal table, with Illia Kovtun taking bronze on parallel bars. Known for his elegant swing technique and precise transitions, Kovtun continues to carry the Ukrainian flag high in men’s artistic gymnastics, securing another world medal for his nation.
🏅 European medal summary – Jakarta 2025
Country
🥇 Gold
🥈 Silver
🥉 Bronze
Total
United Kingdom
1
2
2
5
Turkey
0
1
0
1
Switzerland
0
0
1
1
Ukraine
0
0
1
1
Europe finishes the championship with eight total medals, spreading success across four nations and showing balanced strength between Western, Central, and Eastern Europe.
🔮 A solid path to LA2028
The results in Jakarta highlight a crucial shift for European gymnastics: depth, quality, and innovation are paying off.
Three key takeaways for the continent’s road to Paris 2028:
Consistency pays – Britain and Turkey have built steady systems producing world-class routines year after year.
New nations rise – Switzerland and Ukraine prove that strong fundamentals can lead to podiums.
Women’s gymnastics grows – the D’Amato sisters (Italy), Naomi Visser (Netherlands), and Alice Kinsella (UK) show Europe’s female gymnasts are closing the gap in artistry and execution.
Sport Europe analysis: “The artistry remains European, the power is growing — and Paris 2028 could see Europe on top once again.”
Zadar (Croatia), 14 October 2025 — The Krešimir Ćosić Arena in Zadar has become the beating heart of European table tennis as the 2025 European Team Championships get underway. From 14 to 19 October, the Croatian coastal city will host 24 men’s and 24 women’s national teams competing for continental glory.
🔹 Europe’s Elite Gather in Croatia
Organised by the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU), the event marks the long-awaited return of the team format to the Balkans. The opening ceremony featured all 48 teams parading before a packed arena, setting an electric atmosphere for a week of top-level competition.
🔹 Format and World Championship Qualification
The tournament begins with eight groups of three teams. The top two from each group advance to the Round of 16, followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the grand final on 19 October. Beyond the European title, the top 16 teams overall will also secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Team Championships, to be held in London.
🔹 Favourites and Contenders
In the men’s competition, Sweden enters as the defending champion and top favourite, with Truls Möregårdh, Mattias Falck, and Anton Källberg leading the squad. Germany, France, Portugal, and Slovenia are expected to be strong challengers.
On the women’s side, Germany defends the crown it captured in Malmö 2023, while Romania, France, Hungary, and Poland aim to challenge their dominance. Several younger national teams will be looking to make their mark in Zadar. Among other notable contenders are Spain, England, Italy, and Croatia, all targeting a place in the knockout stage and a spot at the 2026 Worlds.
🔹 A Historic Host Venue
The Krešimir Ćosić Arena, with capacity for more than 9,000 spectators, is hosting a European Table Tennis Championships for the first time. Regarded as one of the most modern sports venues in the Balkans, it offers a perfect blend of tradition, innovation, and atmosphere. The city of Zadar, known for its rich cultural heritage and passion for sport, has also prepared a series of cultural and community events to complement the competition, highlighting its role as a true European table tennis hub.
🔹 Broadcast
All matches are available via ETTU.tv, with international coverage and full replays available on demand.
The championship runs from 14 to 19 October 2025 at the Krešimir Ćosić Arena in Zadar, Croatia, featuring 24 men’s and 24 women’s national teams. Organised by the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU), the tournament not only crowns Europe’s top teams but also provides the top 16 squads with automatic qualification for the 2026 World Team Championships in London.
Lima, Peru – The 2025 Junior World Judo Championships in Lima showcased some of the finest young jLima, Peru – From 5 to 7 October 2025, Lima hosted the Junior World Judo Championships, bringing together 463 young judokas from 65 countries. While Japan dominated much of the overall medal table, European athletes stood out with exceptional performances, demonstrating both depth and talent across multiple categories.
🥇 European Gold Medallists
Europe secured five gold medals from five countries:
Netherlands: Maria Hanstede triumphed in the −78 kg women’s category, executing a decisive yuko to claim the top podium spot.
Serbia: Achieved gold in a men’s category, underlining the country’s strong tradition in middle and heavyweight divisions.
France: Célia Cancan won the gold in the +78 kg women’s category, securing victory by ippon in the final.
Switzerland: April Lynn Fohouo claimed gold in the −70 kg women’s category, displaying remarkable consistency and technical skill.
Georgia: Tornike Gigauri captured gold in the −66 kg men’s category, showcasing flawless technique and excellent control throughout the competition.
🥈 Silver Medallists
Spain: Secured silver in the −70 kg women’s category, reflecting the country’s growing strength in junior judo.
Germany: Took silver in a men’s category, demonstrating the depth and competitiveness of its youth programme.
🥉 Bronze Medallists
Several European countries reached the podium, with Azerbaijan serving as a notable example of the continent’s strength in the bronze medal positions.
🌍 European Performance Overview
In total, Europe finished with:
5 gold medals: Netherlands, Serbia, France, Switzerland, Georgia
2 silver medals: Spain and Germany
Multiple bronze medals, including Azerbaijan
These results underline Europe’s continuing prowess in junior judo and highlight a promising generation of athletes poised to succeed at senior world championships and future Olympic Games. The Championships in Lima confirmed that Europe remains a major force in the development of elite judo talent, combining skill, strategy, and determination.
Istanbul, 7 October 2025 — The 2025 European Air Shooting Championships, held from 1 to 5 October in Istanbul, concluded with an emphatic display of skill and teamwork by the Turkish (Türkiye) national team. Türkiye topped the medal table with three golds, one silver, and one bronze, thrilling local supporters and establishing itself as an emerging force in European shooting sports.
🏅 An Unstoppable National Team
The Türkiye team excelled across multiple events. In the air pistol pairs event, Şevval İlayda Tarhan and Esra Bozabalı secured the gold medal, outscoring strong teams from Italy and Germany. Tarhan also claimed a bronze in the individual air pistol competition, demonstrating her consistency and precision.
In air rifle pairs, the duo of Damla Köse and Elif Berfin Altun added another gold medal for Türkiye, completing a remarkable hat-trick of victories for the host nation. The collective achievements of the team reflect not only technical skill but also excellent coordination and composure under pressure.
🥇 Outstanding Individual Performances
The Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikeç, aged 52, once again amazed the world with his relaxed style and pinpoint accuracy. Known for competing without traditional equipment —no special glasses or ear protection— and often with one hand in his pocket, Dikeç claimed three gold medals in the air pistol team events. His calm attitude and minimalist approach have earned him the nickname “the man, the myth, the legend” on social media.
🏆 Home Advantage and Competitive Edge
The championship brought together over 100 of Europe’s top shooters in air rifle and air pistol disciplines. Competing in high-standard facilities in Istanbul, athletes faced intense competition from traditionally strong nations such as Germany, Italy, and France. Türkiye’s ability to perform consistently across multiple categories proved decisive in securing their position at the top of the standings.
The local audience contributed to an electric atmosphere, cheering each successful shot and celebrating the team’s achievements. Observers noted that the supportive home crowd appeared to boost the confidence and performance of Türkiye’s shooters throughout the five-day event.
Türkiye’s performance in Istanbul signals a strong and growing presence in international shooting sports. With a combination of seasoned athletes and rising talent, the nation is expected to continue challenging for top honours at major competitions. The next milestone for the Türkiye team will be the 2026 World Shooting Championships, where expectations are high for continued success.
This championship has also highlighted the depth of Türkiye’s talent pool, the effectiveness of its training programmes, and the rising prominence of female athletes in the sport. The experience gained here will be invaluable as Türkiye seeks to maintain and expand its influence in European and world shooting competitions.
We have all, at some point in our lives, watched or practiced a sport. On some occasions, we come across disciplines that seem simple and think: “Anyone could do that.” Other times, we see sports that appear so complex that we don’t even dare to try them. Today, we aim to reflect on a question many of us have asked: what is the most difficult sport in the world?
The answer is not straightforward. The difficulty of a sport cannot be determined just by looking at it, as it depends on multiple factors. To organise our analysis, we will focus on four main groups:
Physical and Anthropological Qualities
Motor Skills
Cognitive and Strategic Factors
External and Environmental Factors
1. Physical and Physiological Qualities
These constitute the foundation on which sporting performance is built. They are the set of capabilities that allow the body to execute, sustain, and optimise movement under various demands: from lifting a heavy load, enduring a long-distance run, to reacting in fractions of a second. These qualities combine two dimensions: on the one hand, intrinsic factors related to the individual’s genetic makeup (such as the predominance of certain muscle fibre types or body morphology); and on the other, trainable factors that depend on systematic practice, planning, and physiological adaptation to exercise. Understanding this duality is key to appreciating why some sports are more accessible for certain people and far more challenging for others, and why difficulty is not solely about physical effort, but also the body’s ability to respond to specific conditions.
Strength: the ability of the neuromuscular system to generate tension and overcome resistance. Evident in disciplines such as weightlifting, where lifting extreme loads demands both maximum strength and intermuscular coordination. It is mainly trainable, although body structure (bone lever lengths, muscle mass) can provide intrinsic advantages.
Endurance: the ability to sustain effort over a prolonged period, delaying fatigue. It can be aerobic, as in marathons or long-distance cycling, where cardiorespiratory efficiency is paramount, or anaerobic, critical in short, intense events like the 400-metre sprint or 100-metre swimming. Endurance is trainable, though intrinsic factors such as lung capacity or capillary density make a difference.
Speed and Explosiveness: the ability to react quickly to a stimulus and achieve maximum acceleration in minimal time. Seen in sprinters or footballers contesting a ball. While trainable through technique and power development, it heavily depends on the predominance of fast-twitch fibres, an intrinsic factor.
Flexibility and Joint Mobility: allow wide and efficient movement without limitations. Essential in sports like rhythmic gymnastics, dance, or martial arts, where amplitude and fluidity determine execution quality. Highly trainable, though some individuals have a natural predisposition due to more lax joints.
Body Composition and Muscle Fibres: refers to the proportion of muscle mass, adipose tissue, and the predominance of fast or slow fibres. This directly influences performance: sprinters often benefit from more fast-twitch fibres, while endurance athletes have more slow-twitch fibres. Mostly intrinsic, but optimisable through training, nutrition, and physiological adaptation.
2. Motor Skills
Motor skills are the functional foundation that transforms physical qualities into effective movement within a sporting context. Unlike physiological qualities, which largely depend on genetics, motor skills are mostly trainable, emerging from learning, practice, and bodily adaptation to specific tasks. They can be classified into basic skills, inherent to human motor development (walking, running, jumping, throwing, catching), and complex skills, which involve combinations of finer, precise movements specific to each discipline. They also relate directly to the ability to use space on three levels: personal (control of one’s own body), peripersonal (interaction with nearby objects or people), and extrapersonal (adaptation to the environment, terrain, or opponents). Developing these skills is crucial to understanding why some sports are accessible, while others are extremely difficult.
Basic Motor Skills: include actions such as running, jumping, throwing, or catching, which serve as the foundation for other sporting abilities. For instance, a child learning to coordinate a jump improves their chances in sports like basketball or volleyball. Essentially trainable, though neuromotor maturation sets an intrinsic acquisition rate.
Complex Motor Skills: combine precise and coordinated movements requiring more control and learning. Seen in gymnastics or diving, integrating twists, jumps, and landings. Mostly trainable, depending on basic motor skill foundations.
Coordination and Laterality: the ability to synchronise arms, legs, eyes, and ears for fluid, effective movement. Laterality defines body-side preference (right- or left-handed), affecting technique in sports like tennis or boxing. Coordination is highly trainable; lateral preference is intrinsic.
Agility and Reaction Time: allow rapid adaptation to changes or response to stimuli in fractions of a second. Essential in basketball for sudden direction changes or in fencing to respond to unexpected attacks. Trainable, though neuronal processing speed has intrinsic elements.
Spatial Perception and Control: the ability to orient relative to oneself (personal space), nearby objects/people (peripersonal space), and the overall environment (extrapersonal space). For example, a football goalkeeper must master all three levels: their body, the approaching ball, and opponents’ positions. Fundamentally trainable, developed through varied motor experiences.
3. Cognitive and Strategic Factors
These are mental and processing abilities that allow an athlete to make effective decisions, anticipate situations, and adapt to changing contexts. Although not directly reliant on physical strength or endurance, they are critical in sports requiring precision, rapid thinking, and tactical planning. They combine intrinsic elements, such as natural concentration or memory, with trainable elements, developed through practice, experience, and specific learning.
Decision-Making: choosing the most appropriate action in each moment, considering game situations, opponents’ moves, and external conditions. For example, a basketball point guard quickly decides whom to pass the ball to under defensive pressure. Mostly trainable, though some athletes possess inherently faster analytical skills.
Motor Memory and Learning: recalling and executing complex movement patterns without conscious thought, like a gymnast performing a routine after many repetitions. Trainable, with efficiency increasing through deliberate practice.
Concentration and Emotional Control: maintaining focus and regulating stress even under fatigue. A penalty shootout goalkeeper requires maximum concentration. Concentration can be trained; stress tolerance has intrinsic components.
Anticipation and Pattern Recognition: predicting opponents’ movements or game progression, like a tennis player anticipating a serve type. Trainable, though some athletes naturally recognise complex patterns more easily.
Planning and Strategy: designing and executing short- or long-term plans during competition. For instance, a coach or chess-like athlete sequences moves to overcome an opponent. Trainable, although
adaptability under pressure depends partly on intrinsic situational intelligence.
4. External and Environmental Factors
These are elements of the surroundings that can significantly influence performance. They are not directly under the athlete’s control but require physical, technical, and cognitive adaptation. They demonstrate that sport difficulty is not only about physical or motor abilities but also interaction with the environment, equipment, and competitors.
Surface or Terrain Conditions: affect movement execution and safety. Running on sand, wet grass, or snow requires technique and balance adjustments. Trainable, though some athletes adapt more naturally.
Climate and Weather: wind, rain, extreme heat or cold can change intensity and strategy. A road cyclist must adapt to changing wind and temperature. Trainable, though natural tolerance varies.
Equipment and Sporting Material: complex equipment or coordination with tools can increase difficulty. Handling an oar in rowing or skis in downhill skiing requires precise control. Trainable, though innate dexterity varies.
Rivalry and Competition: opponent presence adds difficulty, demanding rapid decisions and adaptation. A footballer reacts in real-time to opponents’ strategy. Adaptability is trainable, though pressure tolerance and anticipation have intrinsic elements.
Risk and Extreme Physical Demand: sports with high injury potential or maximal effort, like rock climbing or extreme skiing, require technical control, strength, endurance, and focus. Preparation and experience manage these risks (trainable), though risk perception and individual resilience are partly intrinsic.
Conclusion
Defining the most difficult sport in the world is virtually impossible. A discipline’s complexity depends on multiple factors: intrinsic athlete qualities, such as body composition, muscle fibre type, natural coordination, and concentration, alongside training, experience, and the time devoted to developing physical, motor, cognitive, and strategic skills. Additionally, each sport presents unique challenges related to the environment, equipment, and interaction with competitors, making difficulty highly subjective and variable.
Annex
To facilitate comparison and allow individuals to assess difficulty from their perspective, a scoring table can be used for the four main groups of abilities. Assign a subjective value to each sport according to its demands in each area. Summing the values gives a total reflecting perceived complexity. This allows flexible, personalised comparison of disciplines or analysis of which sports are more comprehensive or challenging:
Sport
Physical & Physiological Qualities (0–10)
Motor Skills (0–10)
Cognitive & Strategic Factors (0–10)
External & Environmental Factors (0–10)
Total Score (0–40)
Instructions:
Assign a subjective value from 0 to 10 for each sport in each category based on perceived difficulty or demand.
Sum the values to obtain a total reflecting the sport’s complexity.
Compare different disciplines or use results to analyse which sports are most complete regarding physical, motor, cognitive, and environmental demands.
This methodology does not aim to create a definitive ranking but provides a flexible, customisable tool to explore and reflect on sports difficulty from multiple perspectives.
🌍 Europe on Wheels: UCI Road World Championships 2025 Make History in Kigali 29 September 2025
Kigali (Rwanda), 21–28 September 2025 – For the first time in history, the Road Cycling World Championships were held in Africa. Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, became the epicentre of world cycling for a week, bringing together the best elite, under-23, and junior riders in time trials and road races. With challenging routes combining mountain climbs, technical descents, and urban circuits, the African city offered a unique setting for an unforgettable World Championships.
The organisation and logistics were up to the standard of such a major event: hydration zones, medical assistance, technical areas for teams, and live coverage via social media and specialised outlets allowed fans to follow every pedal stroke closely.
🌍 Continental Representation and Ambitions More than 50 nations took part, with Europe presenting a strong block of established stars and rising talents. Expectations were high: to maintain European hegemony in world cycling, which was ultimately achieved in all events except the elite women’s road race, where Canadian Magdeleine Vallieres broke the continental streak.
Among the elite men, Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) confirmed his superstar status, winning his second consecutive road race title. In the time trial, Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) consolidated his dominance with his third consecutive gold. Among the young talents, Zoe Bäckstedt (Great Britain) and Paula Ostiz (Spain) demonstrated that the future of European cycling is secure.
🚴 Venue and Logistics Kigali presented a unique challenge: undulating, technical roads with several demanding climbs that tested both physical endurance and race strategy. The city delivered flawless logistics, including security, hydration, medical support, technical zones for teams, and international media coverage. The World Championships also served as a showcase for Rwanda, demonstrating its capacity to host global sporting events.
🔄 Competition Format The championship included:
Individual time trial: elite, under-23, and junior, men and women
Mixed team relay: elite
Road races: elite, under-23, and junior, men and women
Each category featured qualifying sessions and line races, concluding with medal ceremonies for each event. The format allowed both the exhibition of individual power in the time trial and team tactics and sprint finishes in the road races.
🚴 Highlights – Elite Categories
Time Trial
Elite men: Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) claimed his third consecutive gold, cementing his reputation as a time-trial specialist.
Elite women: Marlen Reusser (Switzerland) realised her dream of wearing the rainbow jersey after an impeccable performance.
Mixed team relay: Australia took gold, while France secured silver, keeping Europe on the podium.
Road Race
Elite men: Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) made a memorable break on the final climb, securing the title ahead of Remco Evenepoel and Ireland’s Ben Healy.
Elite women: Magdeleine Vallieres (Canada) delivered a decisive attack 20 km from the finish, interrupting European dominance.
🌱 Young Talents on the Rise
Under-23 time trial: Zoe Bäckstedt (GBR) and Joris Nieuwenhuis (NED) dominated their categories with authority.
Junior time trial: Paula Ostiz (ESP) took silver in the women’s race, while the Netherlands topped the men’s podium.
Under-23 and junior road races: France, the Netherlands, and Spain shared golds, demonstrating Europe’s depth of talent and generational consistency.
These results confirm Europe’s capacity to maintain dominance and ensure a steady stream of emerging talent that will continue to set the pace in world cycling over the next decade.
🔥 Tactical and Strategic Notes The Kigali World Championships were not only a physical challenge but also a tactical one. The technical routes and strategic climbs forced teams to coordinate attacks, blocks, and rotations with precision. Time trials demanded sustained power and aerodynamic control, while line races tested riders’ race-reading skills and mental endurance.
Vallieres’ triumph in the women’s road race demonstrated that surprises are always possible, while Europe’s consistency highlighted that preparation and team depth remain decisive factors at the elite level.
📊 Continental Balance Europe dominated the Championships: 12 golds, 8 silvers, and 7 bronzes, with only one exception in the elite women’s road race. The Netherlands stood out with 4 golds, while Belgium, France, and Great Britain also excelled on the medal table.
País
Oro
Plata
Bronce
Total
Países Bajos
2
1
1
4
Gran Bretaña
2
0
0
2
Francia
1
2
1
4
Bélgica
1
1
2
4
España
1
1
2
4
Suiza
1
1
2
4
Italia
1
1
1
3
Eslovenia
1
0
0
1
Suecia
1
0
0
1
📸 Gallery Highlights
Tadej Pogačar celebrating his victory in the elite men’s road race
Marlen Reusser in action during the elite women’s time trial
Zoe Bäckstedt on the podium for the under-23 women’s time trial
Official images shared by the UCI on social media captured both the intensity of the competition and the excitement of the podiums, as well as the festive atmosphere in Kigali.
🏁 A Historic Championship The 2025 Kigali Road Cycling World Championships will be remembered not only for its unprecedented location in Africa but also for confirming European dominance and the emergence of new stars. With established athletes, rising talents, and impeccable organisation, this World Championships set a precedent for future global events in non-traditional continents, proving that cycling can shine anywhere in the world.
Europe continues to set the standard, but Kigali made it clear that world talent is expanding, and surprises like Vallieres’ will always be part of the spectacle.
✨ The Piotr Nurowski Prize: celebrating the future of European sport ✨
Every year, the Piotr Nurowski Prize (PNP) reminds us that sport is not only about records and medals, but also about Olympic values, perseverance, and dreams come true. Since its creation in 2011, the award has placed the spotlight on young talents who are already shining on international stages.
🏆 A legacy of champions Among the names that have become part of the PNP’s history are athletes who went from promising prospects to global stars:
In 2023, Finland’s Minja Korhonen captured the 9th Winter Prize after dominating Nordic combined.
Earlier this year, Hungary’s Viviana Márton, a rising taekwondo star, won the Summer edition in Frankfurt, proving that Piotr Nurowski’s legacy inspires athletes as much on the mats as it does on the snow.
These examples show how the PNP has become a springboard to the elite, but above all, a recognition of the passion and Olympic spirit of young athletes.
🔥 The five finalists winning fans’ hearts
🇺🇦 Yaroslav Lavreniuk – Skeleton
At just 16, Lavreniuk has already become the youngest ever competitor in a Skeleton World Cup race. The Ukrainian lives each run with intensity: speed, ice, and courage. In St. Moritz he was crowned under-20 world champion, and at Gangwon 2024 he won silver, proving that talent has no age limits. His story inspires an entire nation in challenging times, showing that young athletes can be symbols of hope and resilience.
🇪🇸 Unai López Sousa – Snowboard
The Spaniard is one of those riders who bring freedom and creativity to every jump. Raised in the mountains, he spent more time on his board than on solid ground from a young age. At 17 he already boasts double gold at the 2025 EYOF and a strong record on the European circuit. Beyond his spectacular tricks, Unai is admired for his team spirit: always supporting his teammates and sharing his achievements with the wider snowboarding community.
🇩🇪 Finn Sonnekalb – Speed Skating
Methodical, perfectionist, and ambitious: Sonnekalb epitomises the blend of talent and German discipline. On the ice he is unstoppable: three golds, one silver, and two bronzes at the Junior World Championships, alongside the overall Junior World Cup title. At Gangwon 2024 he claimed three more gold medals, cementing his reputation as both a star of the present and the future. Yet behind his competitive edge lies a grounded character, dedicating his victories to his family and team – a reminder that success is never achieved alone.
🇮🇹 Flora Tabanelli – Freestyle Skiing
The Italian is pure inspiration in motion. At 17 she was crowned World Champion in big air and has already secured FIS Crystal Globes in both big air and park & pipe. But Flora is more than results: she has become a youth icon in Italy, described as the “girl who smiles in the air”. Her charisma, energy, and fearlessness have made her a role model for young skiers everywhere. Her secret? As she puts it: “Don’t overthink – let passion guide every jump.”
🇧🇬 Malena Zamfirova – Snowboard
At only 15, Malena is the youngest of the group, yet already making waves. Her first World Cup medal came with a surprise silver in Krynica, proving she can stand with the very best. At the Junior World Championships in Zakopane she shone again with one gold and two silver medals, confirming her status as a prodigy. In Bulgaria she is known as “the diamond of the ice” and, despite her age, she already carries the responsibility of inspiring a new generation in a country where winter sports are still growing.
🌟 A gala with an Olympic future On 3 October in Malta, the National Olympic Committees will vote to decide the winner of the 10th Winter Piotr Nurowski Prize. But beyond who takes home the trophy, all five athletes are already part of a tradition that celebrates excellence and Olympic values.
And if the present is thrilling, the future promises even more: in less than six months, the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will offer the perfect stage for many of these young talents to take the final step into the Olympic elite. The PNP makes one thing clear: the next generation is not only ready… they are here to shine on the world’s greatest sporting stage!
TOKYO — The 2025 Athletics World Championships are producing unforgettable moments, with European athletes stealing the spotlight at the top of the podium. Spain’s María Pérez’s dominant double victory in race walking, Sweden’s Armand “Mondo” Duplantis breaking yet another world record in pole vault, and Italy’s Mattia Furlani making history in the long jump headline the championships so far.
🇪🇸 María Pérez completes historic race walking double
Granada-born María Pérez reaffirmed her global dominance in race walking. In extreme heat and humidity, she stormed to gold in the 35 km walk with a time of 2:39:01, claiming her third world title. Italy’s Antonella Palmisano, the Olympic champion, finished more than three minutes behind.
Just days later, Pérez extended her legend by also winning gold in the 20 km walk with a time of 1:25:54, completing a historic double in Tokyo and cementing her status as one of the all-time greats of the discipline.
📏 Duplantis soars to a new world record
Sweden’s Armand Duplantis once again wrote history in the Tokyo stadium. He cleared 6.30m to set a new pole vault world record, while securing his third world title. With this mark, Duplantis has now broken the world record an astonishing 14 times, underlining his place as one of the greatest talents athletics has ever seen.
🌟 Furlani, the youngest ever world long jump champion
Italy celebrated the rise of Mattia Furlani, just 20 years old, who claimed gold in the long jump with a personal best of 8.39m. The Italian became the youngest world champion in the event’s history. Already a medallist at the European Games, Furlani confirmed in Tokyo that he is the new star of the discipline.
🥇 Other European triumphs in Tokyo
Jimmy Gressier stuns in the 10,000m France’s Jimmy Gressier delivered one of the biggest shocks of the championships, taking gold in the 10,000m in 28:55.77, breaking African dominance. Sweden’s Andreas Almgren added to the European success with bronze — his first major international medal.
Isaac Nader takes 1500m gold In a thrilling final, Portugal’s Isaac Nader claimed the 1500m title, defeating Britain’s 2022 world champion Jake Wightman. The win signals Portugal’s emergence as a middle-distance powerhouse.
Ditaji Kambundji reigns in 100m hurdles Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji stormed to the world title in the 100m hurdles, setting a new national record. At just 23 years old, she has confirmed her rise as one of Europe’s sprinting stars.
Nadia Battocletti, Italy’s double medallist Italian distance runner Nadia Battocletti took silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m, establishing herself as one of the standout performers of the championships.
Femke Bol defends her crown in 400m hurdles The Dutch superstar confirmed her dominance by retaining her world title in the 400m hurdles.
Pedro Pichardo back on top in triple jump Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo reclaimed the world title with a superb 17.91m, returning his country to gold medal glory.
Leo Neugebauer leads Germany to decathlon gold The German all-rounder became world champion, proving his status as one of athletics’ most complete athletes.
Daniel Ståhl strikes gold in discus Sweden’s Daniel Ståhl once again showed his class, winning discus gold to extend Nordic dominance in the event.
More European medals in the field Germany’s Merlin Hummel took silver in hammer throw, while Hungary’s Bence Halász claimed bronze. Czech Jan Štefela also secured bronze in high jump.
Iliass Aouani brings marathon bronze for Italy Italy’s Iliass Aouani captured a historic bronze in the men’s marathon, rounding off a superb championships for the Azzurri.
Kate O’Connor wins historic silver for Ireland Ireland’s Kate O’Connor achieved a historic silver medal in heptathlon, with several personal bests. It marked Ireland’s first track medal at a World Championships in decades.
Europe is enjoying an especially brilliant World Championships, with established stars like Pérez and Duplantis shining alongside young talents such as Furlani, Gressier, Kambundji, Battocletti and O’Connor, symbolising the generational shift at the very top of world athletics
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