Francesca Bergamin

Happy birthday to Italy’s daring hurdler Francesca Bergamin, who gave herself the perfect early birthday present: just days ago at the Meeting del Montello, she flew over the 100m hurdles in 13.70 — a run the federation’s own news desk headlined “Bergamin vola tra gli ostacoli.” Flying over obstacles, indeed. It caps a 2026 that also brought bronze in the 100m hurdles at the Italian University Championships, part of a record medal haul for her University of Padua squad.

Padua, fittingly, is where Galileo spent eighteen years lecturing on the science of motion — and Francesca is out on the track contributing new field research on the subject of flight. Her own motto, straight from her bio, is “wrong and dare.” On current evidence, the daring is working.

Buon compleanno, Francesca! Continua a osare e a volare! 🎂🎁🎉🫶🫶🇮🇹