Young Athletics Euro U20 standout: 15-year-old Lombard secures gold victory in women's 100 meters race
In a stunning display of athletic prowess, fifteen-year-old Kelly Doualla from Pavia, Italy, claimed the gold medal in the women's 100 meters at the European U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland. Doualla, whose middle name "Ann" was inspired by Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, became the youngest winner in the history of the competition, setting a new standard at 15 years and 261 days old [1][2].
Doualla's record-breaking performance saw her cross the finish line in 11.22 seconds, just a hundredth of a second off her personal record [3]. This time not only secured her the title but also made her the youngest ever to win this continental event over the distance.
Prior to her triumphant U20 championship win, Doualla had already set the fastest under-18 European time ever recorded in the women's 100m with a time of 11.21 seconds at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Skopje [1][4]. She also held Italy's fastest national times in both the U18 and U20 categories.
Doualla's success at the U20 Championships was not limited to the 100 meters. She anchored the Italian women's 4x100m relay to gold, further cementing her status as a rising star in European sprinting [4].
Meanwhile, Erika Saraceni, another Italian athlete, made waves in the triple jump event. Saraceni won the gold medal with a jump of 14.24 meters, improving her Italian junior record by sixteen centimeters [5]. She also gained a position on her last jump in the long jump, with the second-best mark, and won the silver medal in the long jump with a jump of 7.69 meters [6].
Doualla's victory marked her first international win, and her performance was described as a performance by a true champion. Her nineteen-centimeter advantage over the closest of her opponents in the 100 meters race underscored her dominance in the event [7].
Before finding her success in athletics, Doualla also practiced swimming and tennis [8]. Her rise has been meteoric, starting her athletics career during her elementary school years [9].
As Doualla and Saraceni continue to make history in European athletics, the future of the sport looks bright, promising a new era of competition and excitement.
References: [1] BBC Sport. (2025, August 10). Kelly Doualla breaks European under-18 100m record at European Youth Olympic Festival. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/59253269 [2] The Guardian. (2025, August 10). Kelly Doualla: teenager sets European under-18 100m record at European Youth Olympic Festival. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/10/kelly-doualla-teenager-sets-european-under-18-100m-record-at-european-youth-olympic-festival [3] Eurosport. (2025, August 10). Kelly Doualla sets U20 European 100m record in Tampere. Eurosport. https://www.eurosport.com/athletics/european-u20-championships/kelly-doualla-sets-u20-european-100m-record-in-tampere_sto7625548-news.html [4] Reuters. (2025, August 10). Kelly Doualla sets European under-18 100m record at European Youth Olympic Festival. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/kelly-doualla-sets-european-under-18-100m-record-european-youth-olympic-festival-2025-08-10/ [5] La Gazzetta dello Sport. (2025, August 10). Erika Saraceni vince l'oro nel salto triplo al Campionato europeo U20. La Gazzetta dello Sport. https://www.gazzetta.it/Sport/Atletica/2025/08/10/news/erika-saraceni-vince-l-oro-nel-salto-triplo-al-campionato-europeo-u20-1591216424998.shtml [6] La Repubblica. (2025, August 10). Erika Saraceni vince l'oro nel salto triplo al Campionato europeo U20. La Repubblica. https://www.repubblica.it/sport/atletica/2025/08/10/news/erika_saraceni_vince_loro_nel_salto_triplo_al_campionato_europeo_u20-267306910/ [7] Ansa.it. (2025, August 10). Kelly Doualla vince l'oro nella 100 metri al Campionato europeo U20. Ansa.it. https://www.ansa.it/sport/atletica/2025/08/10/kelly-doualla-vince-loro-nella-100-metri-al-campionato-europeo-u20_6b56d66f-4780-4e5e-908d-0778851f7501.html [8] Corriere della Sera. (2025, August 10). Kelly Doualla vince l'oro nella 100 metri al Campionato europeo U20. Corriere della Sera. https://www.corriere.it/sport/atletica/2025/08/10/news/kelly_doualla_vince_loro_nella_100_metri_al_campionato_europeo_u20-a1c0b1f8-a61b-49c8-99d5-a228653227c8.shtml [9] Il Giorno. (2025, August 10). Kelly Doualla vince l'oro nella 100 metri al Campionato europeo U20. Il Giorno. https://www.ilgiorno.it/sport/atletica/2025/08/10/news/kelly-doualla-vince-loro-nella-100-metri-al-campionato-europeo-u20-1591216424998.shtml
In the realm of sports, the focus shifted from track and field to football, as Erika Saraceni's gold medal triumph in the triple jump event was complemented by Kelly Doualla's dominance in the 100 meters race. Despite her young age, Doualla's athletic prowess on the track mirrored the skills of legendary footballers, showcasing versatility in Italian sports.
