Serena Di Fabio won the first-ever gold medal in the U20 World Race Walking Championships, winning the 5000m with a time of 20:57.57 on the Eugene track. This historic victory was also highlighted by Nicolò Vidal's third-place finish in the 5000m, with a new Italian U20 record of 18:56.19. Serena By Fabio, an 18-year-old from Abruzzo, Cepagatti (in the province of Pescara), trained by Nicola Piro and registered with the Fiamme Azzurre after growing up at the Polisportiva Tethys Chieti, took the lead from the start, maintaining an unsustainable pace for all her pursuers, starting with the feared Chinese Yang Yutong, who had beaten her in the 10 km at the World Team Championships in Brazil. The Italian crossed the finish line with a new championship record of 20:57.57, 20 seconds ahead of Frenchwoman Chloe Le Roch. This is Italy's third medal in the women's race walk, following Maria Grazia Orsani's bronze (1988) and Noemi Stella's silver (2016, double-distance), while the top eight female race walk finishes in the history of the event have risen to 13, thanks also to Beatrice's excellent sixth place. Palmonari with 21:59.41, PB improved by half a minute. The new one world champion under 20, who had already won the European under 18 gold and the European under 20 silver, He started with the best world under-20 time of the season, 20:42.74, to win the category title in Caorle.
Shortly after his success, Nicolò Vidal, Vidal, a native of Limbiate, registered with PBM Bovisio Masciago and coached this season by Riccardo Pisani, finished third in the men's race walk over the same distance, setting a new Italian under-20 record of 18:56.19. Vidal, who turned 18 on May 3rd and is therefore in his first year in the category, crossed the finish line in fourth place before moving up to third place thanks to the 30 seconds added to the time of Japanese runner Naoto Roppongi, who finished third, due to the third penalty received late in the race. This was a well-deserved medal, as Nicolò Vidal displayed a true masterclass in race management that allowed him to stay close to the leading group.
