Florence has two athletes at the top of world athletics. Leonardo Fabbri and Larissa Iapichino have reached number one in their respective disciplines in the latest World Athletics rankings, placing the Tuscan city at the forefront of international track and field.
Fabbri, 29, from Bagno a Ripoli, just outside Florence, leads the men’s shot put rankings with 1,400 points. Iapichino, 24, who was born in Florence, has taken first place in the women’s long jump standings with 1,358 points.
Their positions are confirmed by World Athletics rankings published in October 2026, following a season in which both athletes won major international competitions and delivered consistent performances.
Fabbri leads the world in shot put
Leonardo Fabbri occupies first place in the men’s shot put rankings, narrowly ahead of Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell, who has 1,397 points. American Jordan Geist is third with 1,370 points.
The Italian’s position reflects his consistency throughout 2026. Fabbri exceeded 22 metres on 11 occasions during the season, demonstrating his ability to compete at the highest level across different international meetings.
His achievements this year include the European title in Birmingham and victories at the Golden Gala in Rome and the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, where he recorded a throw of 22.74 metres.
Fabbri has established himself among the leading international shot putters in recent years. His personal best of 22.98 metres, set in September 2024, is also the Italian national record.
His latest ranking confirms his position among the world’s leading competitors in a discipline traditionally dominated by athletes from the United States and other major athletics nations.
Iapichino reaches number one after record-breaking season
Larissa Iapichino has also reached the top of the international rankings, overtaking American Tara Davis-Woodhall, the reigning Olympic champion.
Iapichino leads with 1,358 points, five ahead of Davis-Woodhall on 1,353. American Alyssa Jones is third with 1,328 points, followed by Monae’ Nichols and Germany’s Malaika Mihambo.
The Florentine athlete’s rise follows a successful 2026 campaign. She won the European long jump title in Birmingham, secured gold at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest and took silver at the World Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland.
One of her most significant performances came on 4 July at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, where she jumped 7.12 metres, setting a new Italian national record.
The jump surpassed the previous national record held by her mother, Fiona May, the former world champion who represented Italy. Iapichino is coached by her father, Gianni Iapichino, himself a former international pole vaulter.
Her victory at the Ultimate Championships in September further strengthened her position in the rankings, allowing her to finish ahead of some of the most established names in women’s long jump.
How the World Athletics rankings work
The World Athletics rankings are not based solely on an athlete’s longest jump or throw. They take into account performances across several competitions, combining results with the level and importance of each event.
For Iapichino, the five performances contributing to her ranking include her Ultimate Championships victory, her second places at the Eugene Diamond League meeting and Diamond League Final, her European title and her World Indoor Championships silver medal.
This system rewards both high-level results and consistency over the course of the season.
It also explains why leading the rankings is different from holding the longest jump or throw of the year. An athlete can be ranked first without recording the world’s best individual performance in that season.
A significant achievement for Florence athletics
The simultaneous success of Fabbri and Iapichino gives Florence an unusual distinction: two athletes associated with the city occupy the top positions in two different international athletics disciplines.
Their achievements also reflect different stages of their careers. Fabbri has built his standing through several years of international competition, while Iapichino, at 24, has reached the top of the rankings after progressing through junior competitions and establishing herself among the leading senior athletes.
For both, the number-one ranking represents recognition of their results across the 2026 season rather than a single competition victory.
With Fabbri leading the men’s shot put and Iapichino heading the women’s long jump standings, Florence ends the international athletics season with two of its athletes ranked first in the world.
(Cover photo taken from Wikipedia)
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