by Deji Ogeyingbo
Larissa Iapichino’s breakout 2024 and Her Road to European Indoors
Larissa Iapichino had one of her best years in 2024 . After years of gradual progress, the Italian long jumper has firmly established herself as one of the best in the world. Her 2024 campaign has been a resounding one by a far stretch as it proves she’s no longer just a rising star, but a serious contender for Gold at every major event.
It all started in June 2024, when she soared to 6.94 meters at the European Championships in Rome, securing a Silver medal in front of an electric home crowd. That performance gave her confidence heading into the Paris Olympics, where she knew she had a shot at making history.
In Paris, she delivered a strong performance, leaping 6.87 meters in the final. It wasn’t quite enough for a medal as she finished fourth, just missing out on the podium—but it was proof that she belonged on the biggest stage. Some athletes might have struggled to bounce back from such a near miss, but Iapichino used it as fuel.
Just weeks later, she made a bold statement at the Diamond League Final in Brussels. Against a world-class field, she delivered when it mattered most, jumping 6.80 meters to claim the title. It was her first Diamond League trophy and a major milestone in her career. The victory wasn’t just about the distance, it was about showing she could handle pressure and win on the sport’s biggest circuits.
“I was so close in Paris, and that hurt,” Iapichino admitted. “But I knew I was in great shape, and I wanted to finish my season on a high. Winning in Brussels gave me that.”
The momentum from her summer success has carried into the winter. Now, she’s gearing up for another huge test: the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn. For the first time, she’ll enter as one of the favorites.
Iapichino has a decent history in the European Indoors. In 2023, she won silver in Istanbul with a national indoor record of 6.97 meters, a mark that finally separated her from her mother, Fiona May, whose record she had previously tied. It was a breakthrough moment, proving she could perform when the stakes were high. No doubt, she would set her sights on claiming Gold at this year’s European Indoors in the Netherlands.
Her preparation has been intense. Training under her father, Gianni Iapichino, she’s been fine-tuning every aspect of her technique. She’s worked on her approach, her takeoff, and most importantly, her mindset. She knows she has the physical ability to win. Now, it’s about execution.
“Larissa has always had the talent,” her father said. “But now, she has the experience to match. She knows what it takes to win at this level.”
Her biggest competition in Apeldoorn will likely come from familiar rivals like Malaika Mihambo and Ivana Vuleta, both of whom she has already beaten in the past. But Iapichino isn’t focused on them—she’s focused on herself.
That approach has served her well so far. With each competition, she’s proving she’s more than just the daughter of an Olympic legend (Fiona May, two Olympic silvers and two World Champs golds). She’s carving out her own path, one leap at a time.
The European Indoors could be the next major milestone. A gold medal would shoot her up as one of Europe’s best and set the stage for an even bigger 2025. More importantly, it would be another step toward winning world outdoor championships in Tokyo in September.
But for now, her focus is squarely on Apeldoorn. With confidence high and her form peaking at the right time, Lapichino is ready to take flight once again.
