Golden debut for Paralympic athletics at the World Championships in Kobe, Japan.
Carlo Calcagni runs the 100 T72 with a time of 15.39 and wins the gold medal complete with a world record.
Sumptuous performance for the Azzurro who immediately started strong and flew to the finish line despite the headwind (-2.3), crumbling the previous record of 15.80 which already belonged to him.
The world podium is completed by the Brazilian Vinicius Marques Krieger Quintino, silver in 17.54, and the Lithuanian Deividas Podobajevas with a time of 17.82.
First medal ever for Italy in frame running, the aid that allows athletes with coordination and balance difficulties to try their hand at running. Added to the world championship program in the Paris 2023 edition, this discipline is showing constant growth, with an ever-increasing competitive level between the lanes.
The new world champion was moved: “What an honor, what a medal. I had a great responsibility today, as I was the first Italian to compete in a world championship with the frame. I didn’t want to waste an opportunity like that, because regardless of the result, the best victory is being here. What should make the news is not so much the gold medal, as beautiful as it is, but the fact that thanks to sport you can live well despite serious pathologies like mine, there is no better therapy than a result like this that pays you back of all the sacrifices behind it. For this I particularly thank my family, who is always there especially in the most difficult moments. I wanted to honor everyone with victory and world records. – Which he adds – What happened today is proof that dreams can be realized and that they are ageless. I started late, but from then on I put my mind and heart into it and that’s how I built my victory. I dedicate this result to my family, to President Porru and to the entire Federation, but above all to those who suffer and thanks to me find the strength to move forward and overcome their difficulties.”
Tomorrow is a rest day for the Italian delegation, which returns to the track again with speed on Sunday 19 May.
Every day the event will be broadcast live on the YouTube Channel of the International Federation from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 17.00 to 20.00 local time (CET+7)
Photo Augusto Bizzi
