Nafi Thiam completed the first day of the heptathlon of the European Athletics Championships in the lead ahead of Noor Vidts after four of the seven events on Friday in Rome.
Aligned in the second of three heats of the 200m, the last event of the day, Vidts and Thiam ranked first and third respectively. The Brabançonne signed her best time of the season in 23.85 (995 points) and the Namuroise crossed the line in 24.81 (904 points).
Thiam started his day with a time of 13.74 over 100m hurdles, a jump of 1m95 at height and a throw of 15m06 at weight. Vidts broke two personal bests in the 100m hurdles (13.16) and shot put (14m79) and achieved a mark of 1m84 at height.
At the end of this first day, the double Olympic, world and European champion retained her first place with 3,955 points, only 35 more than Vidts, still in second place. Frenchwoman Auriana Lazraq-Khlass is third, 40 points behind Thiam (23.56).
Briton Katarina Johnson-Thompson, double world champion in the discipline, retired after the first three events due to an injury to her right leg.
Thiam is competing in his first competition of the year in Rome. His last appearance dates back to July 30, 2023 at the Belgian championships. Painful Achilles tendons then prompted her to be cautious. She is aiming, on the tartan of the Stadio Olimpico, to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games. To do this, she must achieve 6,480 points.
The last three events will take place on Saturday with the long jump, during the morning session (12:10 p.m.), and the javelin throw (6:05 p.m. and 7:20 p.m.) and the 800 m in the evening (9:47 p.m.).
