Olympic and world runner-up Nadia Battocletti will be the star attraction of the World Indoor Tour Madrid 2026, the fourth stop on the World Athletics Gold category circuit, on February 6.
After retaining her European cross-country champion title in Lagoa, the Italian long-distance runner aims to win her first international indoor medal this winter, the only venue where she has yet to reach the podium.
Madrid will be a crucial test to gauge Battocletti's form, as she has established herself over the last two years as the leading star of European middle and long-distance running. A double European champion (5000m and 10.000m) in Rome in 2024, Olympic silver medalist in the 5000m in Paris, European 10km champion in Brussels in 2025, world silver medalist in the 10.000m in Tokyo last September, and world bronze medalist in the 5000m, also in the Japanese capital. She also holds the European record in the 5km and the Italian record in the 3000m (outdoors and short track), 25m, 10.000m, and 5km and 10km. A legendary record at just 25 years old.
At the Gallur Sports Centre, Battocletti will attempt to break one of the few Italian records that have eluded her: the 1500 meters. She hasn't competed in this event on the short track for five years, although she did set a personal best of 3:58.15 outdoors last summer, just four hundredths of a second shy of the Italian record. In Madrid, her challenge is to surpass Marta Zenoni's 4:03.59, a record that stood for over 40 years, set in 2025.
On February 6, Battocletti will return to a city that holds great memories for her. After all, less than a year ago she was crowned European team champion with Italy in Vallehermoso, where she won the 5000 meters.
Despite her undeniable talent, Battocletti will have a very difficult time winning the 1500 meters at WIT Madrid 2026. She will face formidable rivals such as Portugal's Patrícia Silva, bronze medalist in the 800 meters at the World Indoor Championships; Ethiopia's Birke Haylom and Saron Berhe, world under-20 record holder and under-20 world champion respectively; and her own compatriot Ludovica Cavalli, the reigning Italian 1500m short track champion.
Don't miss the top European athlete in Madrid, competing in a truly spectacular 1500m race. For more information about the event and ticket sales, visit our website: madridindoorathletics.es