World champion's Birmingham campaign ends after just one attempt
Mattia Furlani's European Championships campaign came to an abrupt end on Monday after the reigning world champion withdrew from the men's long jump qualifying competition with an injury.
Furlani produced a 7.73-metre opening jump in Birmingham before appearing to suffer a problem with his right hamstring on landing. He was subsequently unable to continue and was taken away from the competition area. Reuters reported that the injury also raises questions about his availability for the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest next month.
The setback is particularly significant because Furlani arrived in Birmingham among the leading contenders for the European title.
A painful end to a highly anticipated campaign
Furlani's first qualifying attempt was not enough to tell the story of what had been expected from him at these championships.
The 21-year-old entered the competition as the reigning world champion and 2024 Olympic bronze medallist. His performances in 2026 had also established him among the leading long jumpers in the world. World Athletics lists him as the 2025 world champion and records a 2026 personal and season best of 8.39 metres.
Instead of progressing through qualification, however, his European Championships ended after a single jump.
The immediate priority is now determining the extent of the injury.
The timing could not be worse
Furlani had built considerable momentum before arriving in Birmingham.
His 8.39-metre performance in Metz earlier this year remains one of the standout marks attached to his 2026 campaign, and his status as world champion made him one of the athletes expected to command attention at the European Championships.
That makes the injury more than a disappointing championship exit.
The next few weeks could determine whether Furlani is able to return quickly enough to compete at the next major target on his calendar.
Reuters reported that his participation at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest next month is now uncertain.
Francesco Inzoli provides an immediate Italian positive
While Furlani's withdrawal was the major Italian story in the qualifying session, there was another development that gave the country reason for optimism.
Fellow Italian Francesco Inzoli led the long jump qualifiers with a wind-assisted 8.34 metres, according to Reuters.
Inzoli's performance means Italy still has a strong presence in the competition despite losing its biggest medal contender.
The contrast also highlights the depth currently developing within Italian long jump.
What Furlani's absence means for the competition
Furlani's withdrawal removes one of the names most capable of challenging for the European title.
That changes the competitive landscape immediately.
Other qualifiers now have an opportunity to compete for a medal without having to overcome the reigning world champion, while Italy's hopes can shift towards Inzoli and its other remaining competitors.
For Furlani, however, the result itself is secondary.
The bigger question is his recovery timeline.
The road ahead
There is currently no confirmed timetable for Furlani's return.
The nature and severity of the injury will need to be established before any reliable prediction can be made about his next competition.
That uncertainty is important. Speculation about his availability for Budapest should not be treated as a confirmed absence or confirmed return.
What is confirmed is that Furlani will not continue at the European Championships after withdrawing from qualifying.
A major setback for one of athletics' rising stars
Furlani has already established an extraordinary résumé at a young age.
He won Olympic bronze in Paris in 2024 before becoming world champion in 2025, and his 8.39-metre mark has kept him among the leading figures in the event.
That makes Birmingham a frustrating interruption rather than a reflection of his competitive level.
His immediate challenge is now to recover properly and establish when he can safely return to competition.
For now, the European Championships will continue without the defending world champion.
And for Furlani, the focus shifts from the long jump runway to recovery.
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