Italian distance runner Pietro Riva secured a silver medal in the marathon at the European Athletics Championships, according to multiple Italian outlets including ANSA. Riva crossed the line just seven seconds behind the gold medalist, a margin reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The race took place on Sunday, August 16, 2026, as part of the continental championships. Riva’s performance was widely covered by Italian media, with Il Fatto Quotidiano and Il Post both confirming the runner’s second-place finish. ANSA first reported the result, noting the silver medal in the men’s marathon.
Beyond Riva’s individual achievement, the Italian women’s marathon team also earned a silver medal in the team standings, according to the Italian athletics federation FIDAL. The federation’s report highlighted the squad’s collective result, though individual team member times were not detailed in the available material.
Riva’s near-miss for gold, coming within single digits of the top spot, marks a strong showing for Italian distance running at these championships. The result adds to a growing list of podium finishes for the Italian team at the event, which continues through the week.
With the marathon now complete, attention shifts to the remaining track and field finals. Italian fans will be watching to see whether the team can add further medals before the championships conclude.
