LAWN. Tuscany, and especially Prato, will look to the women’s water polo Olympics with great interest. In Paris there could be three athletes who push Setterosa to a medal at the Games: Chiara Tabani, already silver in Rio de Janeiro, Giuditta Galardi And Sara Cordovani. Among other things, Tabani, after having won many trophies with the blue cap, won the championship this year for the first time in his career. «I waited almost thirty years to win a championship. I’m really happy: the choice to change (she went from Sis Roma to Orizzonte Catania, ed.) was the right one. The Italian title was a dream and I’m also excited about the Paris Olympics. This victory gives me an incredible boost.”
The water polo player from Prato, who grew up in Prato Waterpolo, scored a brace in game 3, which contributed to Ekipe Orizzonte beating Plebiscito Padova 14-12. A victory that allowed Chiara and her teammates to become Italian champions, making up for the defeat in “game 1” with victories in the last two matches. The Catania team had also closed the A1 regular season in first place and were in all respects the team to beat.
The athlete from Prato realized this last year, when she was still playing for Sis Roma and lost the tricolor against her future teammates. A defeat that led her to reflect: in a personal list of achievements that already included two world bronzes and two European bronzes with the national team (in addition to the Olympic silver in Rio 2016) and a Spanish championship with Sabadell, only the tricolor was missing . She was unable to lift the Champions League to the skies, her last great dream before retiring, but there is still time. Also because her next challenge will take her to France. Chiara has been an essential player for Setterosa for almost a decade and as the new Italian champion, she will most likely be one of the “veterans” ahead of the Paris Olympics. «Competing in the Olympics is the dream of all little girls who start playing a sport – Tabani tells us -. I was lucky enough to have been there in Rio de Janeiro, but then we didn’t manage to qualify for Tokyo. In Paris we will give our all to achieve a great result.”
Together with Tabani, an effective defender also in the attacking phase, Setterosa’s center will be their long-time friend Giuditta Galardi who, with Sis Roma, won the Italian Cup in this championship. «A third place in the championship combined with the victory of the Italian Cup denotes a positive season – explains Galardi -. Now I will continue to train hard to deserve the call up for the Olympics.” The athlete from Prato who has been a fundamental player for Setterosa for some years and who has made a fundamental contribution to the Olympic qualification preaches humility and also adds a pinch of superstition. These days she is in college with Italy in Rovereto, until the coach Carlo Silipo indicates the players who will leave for the French Olympic dream. And Giuditta’s competitive soul emerges when she is asked to comment on the way in which the “pass” was removed. «We took a burden off ourselves, because as time passed the ball became “heavier”, especially on a psychological level-she said. We must not forget that at the last World Championships we finished seventh, taking a step backwards.” This is also why you need immediate redemption. And she has no doubts about the Olympic objective: Italy can and must aspire to a medal. «It won’t be easy, there are at least six or seven national teams on the same level as us, it will be the details that will make the difference-she concluded. The podium, however, is within reach.”
Among the possible players called up to Cinque Cerchi there could also be midfielder Sara Cordovani, a member of Trieste, born in 2001 who replaced Agnese Cocchiere in Eindhoven. She grew up in Rari Nantes Florentia, in Florence, and this year she played in the championship with water polo Trieste. The appointment will be Monday 29 July at 2pm with the debut match between the hosts France. The Setterosa push boat is just waiting to enter the water.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
