Italy is still great at the European Open Paralympic Swimming Championships in Madeira. On the sixth day, the Azzurri won 5 gold, 1 silver and bronze, bringing the total number of medals to 53.
Carlotta Gilli is also queen of the 400 freestyle S13. Fourth individual gold for the athlete of GS Fiamme Oro and Rari Nantes Torino. After the success in the 100 butterfly, 50 and 100 freestyle, today on the penultimate day of competition at Penteada, the Italian also dominates in the long distance, adding yet another gold to the Italian medal count. The twenty-three year old from Piedmont closed the final at 4’32”98. Ukrainian Stetsenko took silver (4’40”72), bronze went to Irishman Ni Rian (4’44”62). In the same final also Alessia Berra (Fiamme Azzurre/Polha Varese) achieved 8th European place (5’08”75).
Angela Procida (GSPD/CS Portici) does not disappoint expectations in the direct final of the 50m backstroke S2: the Italian brings gold medal number 20 to Italy, thanks to a time swam of 1’10”91. Behind the Neapolitan comes Koltsova (NPA – 1’12”81) and the Spanish Perales (1’26”44). “Winning this gold was a great emotion for me – says Procida – especially because no one can imagine how much I wanted to bring the Italian tricolor high and how much after the 2021 European Championships, which were missed in my class, I wanted to swim a race that lived up to my expectations and all the sacrifices I make.”
In the direct final of the 50m backstroke S1, Francesco Bettella takes the bronze. The Italian from GS Fiamme Oro and Civitas Vitae Sport Education swims in 1’15”82, finishing the podium behind the Israeli Shalabi (1’12”89) and the Ukrainian Kol (1’14”59).
Silver for Xenia Palazzo in the direct final of the 200 medley SM8. The athlete of the GS Fiamme Azzurre and the Verona Swimming Team stops the time at 2’46”50. The Greek Michalentzakis took the gold (2’26”30) and the Israeli Malyar took the bronze (2’30”30).
Two gold medals respectively in the 50m breaststroke SB4 and 200m medley SM5, a silver in the 50m freestyle S5, Monica Boggioni (GS FF.OO./Pavia swimming) returns to the podium, with another magnificent gold this time in the 200m freestyle S5 . The girl from Lombardy gets the most precious metal, finishing at 2’49”62. Second place went to the Ukrainian Poida (2’59”98), followed by the Czech Koupilova (3’03”66).
Francesco Bocciardo confirms himself as European champion in the 200m freestyle S5. The Italian from GS Fiamme Oro and Nuotatori Genovesi is first with 2’28”40. Behind the Italian Pulver (2’30”20) and the Ukrainian Komarov (2’32”87).
In the final of the 100 freestyle S10, Alessia Scortechini (CC Aniene) in addition to winning bronze improved her Italian record with 1’01″64. Gold medal for the Dutch Kruger (1’01″18), the silver instead for the French Pierre (1’01″47).
Another success at these European Championships for Stefano Raimondi (GS FF.OO/Aly sport). After the gold medal in the 100m breaststroke, 200m medley and 100m butterfly, the Venetian also dominated the final of the 100m freestyle S10, finishing at 51″93, almost touching his personal best. Behind Raimondi, the Ukrainian Nimchenko ( 52″68) and the Englishman Tuckfield (53″93).
