France’s Jimmy Gressier claimed his first senior international title by winning the men’s half marathon at the European Championships.
The 26-year-old dominated with a front-running masterclass, clocking 59:45 to set a championship record and affirm European distance supremacy.
Gressier surged to the front alongside a small lead pack that included Norway’s Awet Nftalem Kibrab, Ireland’s Efrem Gidey, and French teammate Valentin Goudouin. By the 2km mark, Goudouin had dropped back, leaving a trio of contenders battling for supremacy.
At the 3km mark, Gressier attacked on an incline, briefly opening a 10-meter gap. Though Kibrab and Gidey reeled him back on the descent, the Frenchman maintained a punishing tempo, hitting 5km in 13:52. Gidey slipped to third early, and Kibrab held on bravely before Gressier’s relentless pace broke him at 6km.
He passed 10km in 27:50, putting him 12 seconds ahead of Kibrab and well within striking distance of Julien Wanders’ European record (59:13). However, the mid-race fatigue set in, and his pace dipped slightly over the next 5km (14:27). Despite fading in the final kilometers, Gressier held on to break his personal best by one second, crossing the line in 59:45, a time that now stands as the fastest in championship history.
“I am very happy because it is my first title as a senior,” Gressier said post-race.
“I love running; I love the half marathon. My plan was to run alone, I feel free when I run alone. I wanted to push from the start and run for the win.”
After hurdling the finish tape, Gressier confirmed plans to shift focus to the 3,000m steeplechase this summer.
“My plan is to tun alone, I feel free when I run alone. I wanted to push from the start and run for the win. In the summer, I want to do steeplechase, so I celebrate like this because I will do steeplechase in the summer.”
Kibrab claimed a well-deserved silver in 61:08, while Goudouin earned bronze in 61:54, narrowly beating the Irishman.
France’s dominance extended to the team competition, with Bastien Augusto’s 15th-place finish securing gold ahead of Spain (7th, 8th, 9th) and Italy (5th, 14th, 17th).
The women’s half marathon saw another French victory, with Chloé Herbiet claiming her first international medal in 1:11:39. She led a French 1-2 finish, holding off teammate Juliette Thomas (1:11:53). Italy’s Sara Nestola rounded out the podium in 1:12:22.
