Italian sprint sensation Kelly Doualla, 15, wins European U20 100m gold

Italian sprint sensation Kelly Doualla, 15, wins European U20 100m gold

AW
Published: 08th August, 2025
Updated: 8th August, 2025
BY Jason Henderson

Brits Mabel Akande and Teddy Wilson win sprint silvers as Hubert Troscianka breaks world U20 decathlon record on day two in Tampere

Kelly Doualla does not turn 16 until November but on the second day of the European Under-20 Championships in Tampere on Friday (Aug 8) she scorched away from her older rivals to win the women’s 100m title in style.

The Italian sprint prodigy clocked 11.22 (-0.1) ahead of runner-up Mabel Akande as the British athlete ran 11.41 in front of bronze medallist Uliana Stepaniuk of Ukraine.

The winner’s full name of Kelly Ann Maevane Doualla Edimo was inspired by Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Certainly, if she continues her progression she could follow in Fraser-Pryce’s footsteps.

Kelly Doualla (Getty)

“I am very excited for this result,” said Doualla. “I was very emotional in the finish because it was a very important competition for me. This is a huge success for me and for my career.

“My mum is a big fan of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, so my middle name is also Ann. I have always been following her since my childhood.”

Mabel Akande (Getty)

Akande, of Lincoln Wellington, said: “I’m still coming to terms with what has happened. It is slowly rendering. I am just so happy.

“I think it went to plan, it is definitely an improvement from last year. I wasn’t sure where to go or what to do but I looked up at the team and just thought ‘yes, we’ve done it!’”

Jozuah Revierre, Ander Garaiar, Teddy Wilson (Getty)

Ander Garaiar of Spain took the men's 100m title in 10.40 (-0.7) as Britain won another sprint silver, this time with Teddy Wilson sharing second place with Jozuah Revierre of the Netherlands as they both clocked 10.47.

“I knew I had the possibility to win but I did not exactly know how capable I was,” said Garaiar. “It was a bit of a surprise for me. I felt I was very fast out of the blocks and it was an amazing race.”

Wilson, the joint GB team-captain with Innes FitzGerald, runs for Shaftesbury Barnet in the UK.

Hubert Troscianka (Getty)

In the decathlon, Hubert Troscianka set a world under-20 record of 8514 points as he powered through his two-day competition.

His marks were: 100m - 10.74; long jump - 7.26m; shot - 15.48m; high jump - 1.94m; 400m - 46.21 (world U20 decathlon best); 110m hurdles - 14.23; discus - 43.36m; pole vault - 4.80m; javelin - 68.87m (championship best); 1500m - 4:28.59.

Elsewhere, Erika Saraceni of Italy broke a 24-year-old championship record with 14.24m in the women's triple jump.

Erika Saraceni (Getty)

Aatu Kangasniemi of Finland came away with silver and bronze medals on the same day in the men's shot and discus. He couldn't match the world under-20 champion Jarno Van Daalen of the Netherlands, who won shot put gold with 21.07m, though, while Armin Szabados of Hungary was well clear of his rivals with an 82.91m winning effort in the hammer.

Willem Renders (Getty)

Willem Renders of Belgium won the 5000m with a strong finish in 14:14.59.

The session also saw Daniel Emegbor of Britain – the rising star in AW's August magazine – finish fifth on his international debut in the men’s long jump with a best of 7.44m.

Daniel Emegbor (Getty)

GB team-mate Jabez Berry narrowly missed out on a podium place in the hammer with 73.99m earning him fourth place.

In the rounds, FitzGerald followed her 5000m victory on Thursday by easing through her 3000m heat in 9:19.41, while fellow Brit Shaikira King confirmed her status as women’s 800m favourite as she front-ran her heat in 2:04.48.

Shaikira King (Getty)

Charlotte Henrich of Britain was also impressive as she was quickest in the women’s 400m semi-finals with 52.39.

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