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Antonella Palmisano handed Italy the perfect start as hosts of the European athletics championships by winning the opening medal event, the 20km race walk, on Friday.
The 32-year-old reigning Olympic champion timed 1hr 28min 09sec around a stunning course in roasting conditions that saw many race walkers using ice packs around their necks.
Palmisano dominated the circuits of the Stadio dei Marmi, the warm-up stadium in Rome's Olympic complex surrounded by 60 four-metre (13ft) tall classical marble statues of athletes dating back to Italy's Fascist era under Benito Mussolini.
Lapping rivals at will, Palmisano finished with a celebratory lap in the Stadio Olimpico, draped in an Italian flag, to wild cheering from a small crowd.
There was an Italian 1-2 as Valentina Trapletti claimed silver in 1:28.37.
Spain's Laura Garcia-Caro thought she would be rounding out the podium, but celebrated too soon and was edged at the line by Ukraine's Lyudmila Olyanovska in a photo finish.
T.Gilbert--TFWP