Four medals, two gold and two silver: Italy’s journey to the European Athletics Championships in Rome begins under a lucky star. Added to the Palmisano-Trapletti double in the 20km race was Nadia Battocletti’s gold in the 5,000 and the silver in the 4×400 mixed race.
A triumphal march, once again. Antonella Palmisano wins gold at the European Athletics Championships in Rome, confirming herself as the woman to beat in the 20km. The Italian race walker, after the two world bronze medals, a European bronze and above all the Olympic gold in Tokyo, also adds to her trophy cabinet the first success in the continental event achieved with a time of 1:28:09. A victory sought, pursued and ultimately achieved. Already in the lead from the first lap, under the eyes of the Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi to encourage her, in the middle of the race Palmisano gave the decisive breakaway by going into a breakaway, and then entered the avenue that leads to the tunnel of the plant Roman rejoicing with the public, and then, flower on the head and Italian flag on the shoulders, in an almost empty Olympic stadium – but there was no lack of cheering on the course – but ready to welcome with a great roar the overall triumphant in a specialty of which she is now the undisputed queen, as evidenced by the crown worn after the finish line, a gift from her coach husband Lorenzo Dessi.
ANSA Agency European athletics championships: Battocletti gold in the 5000m – Other Sports – Ansa.it Fourth medal for Italy at the European Championships (ANSA)“It’s the first European gold and at home it has a different flavor, now I’m arriving in Paris with more confidence”, the words of the Italian who doesn’t fail to send a thought to her Spanish opponent, Maria Perez, absent today: “It’s a “Friend, we talk often and I was sad that he wasn’t here, but I told him that we’ll see each other at the Games. I wish you, as well as Massimo Stano, that we come back stronger than before.” Finally, a joke about the Olimpico: “I would have liked to see it fuller, but our path was outside and the support was never lacking there”, underlined Palmisano, thrilled by the success. Together with her, completing the Italian party, also Valentina Trapletti, second at the finish line ahead of the Ukrainian Olyanovska who took bronze in the sprint on Garcia-Caro, complete with a flag tied around her neck to give herself a prestigious medal, a clear sign of how the Italian athletics long live a moment of magic, the new King Midas of Italian disciplines capable of transforming every event into gold – and even silver. “I’m in disbelief, but I believed it. I didn’t expect such a great result. Thanks to the public who felt from the first to the last km. A beautiful race in a crazy context, the route around the Stadio dei Marmi was wonderful” , the words of the Milanese.
ANSA Agency European athletics championships: silver for Italy in the 4×400 mixed – Other Sports – Ansa.it Gold for Ireland and bronze for the Netherlands (ANSA)After the finish line, then, the most beautiful scene with Palmisano waiting for his partner and embracing her, giving, already on the first day, one of the images that will remain engraved in the memory of Italian athletics. A debut, that of the Italian team which lives up to expectations thanks to the results of Furlani, in the final on the first jump with his 8.17, as well as the 14.10 of Dariya Derkach in the triple jump and the 21.10 meters of Leonardo Fabbri, capable of accessing to the final with ease. However, three Italians reached the semi-finals in the 800 metres: Catalin Tucuceanu, Francesco Pernici and Simone Barontini, equaling the result obtained by Besana, Carmassi and Carraro in the women’s 100 meters hurdles. Results that allow Italian athletics to dream big.
Palmisano ‘happy with the route, I enjoy it’
“We wanted to take control of the situation from the first meter and we did so.” Thus Antonella Palmisano, gold in the 20km race walk at the European Athletics Championships in Rome, comments on the Italian double together with Trapletti. “I’m happy with the journey and after years I’ve enjoyed it. I found the pleasure of training and experiencing this emotion today”, she added. Then she joked about the crown she was wearing: “It’s the first gift from my husband after a long time, I have to keep it (laughs, ed.). Today everyone encouraged me to achieve this result.”
Trapletti ‘still in disbelief, thanks Rome’
“I’m in disbelief, but I believed it. I didn’t expect such a great result. Thanks to the public who listened from the first to the last km. Beautiful race in a crazy context, the route around the Stadio dei Marmi was wonderful.” Valentina Trapletti, silver in the 20km race walk at the European Championships in Rome, said this to Rai’s microphones.
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA
