European athletics championships: Italy first in the medal table. Giordani: “A strong team ready for the Olympics”

The twenty-sixth edition of the European athletics championships ended yesterday in Rome. The undisputed protagonist of the sporting event was Italy which, as host, ranked first in the medal table. 24 medals, of which 11 gold, 9 silver and 4 bronze. An absolute record followed which saw us above France with 16 medals (4 gold, 5 silver, 7 bronze) and Great Britain with 13 (4 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze). In particular, 11 golds: 100m (Jacobs), 110 hurdles (Simonelli), half marathon (Crippa), team half marathon, high jump (Tamberi), shot put (Fabbri), 5,000 women (Battocletti), 10,000 women (Battocletti), 20 km women’s walk (Palmisano), women’s hammer (Fantini), 4×100 m (Melluzzo, Jacobs, Patta, Tortu) 9 silvers: 100 m (Ali), 200 m (Tortu), 400 m (Sibilio ), half marathon (Riva), long (Furlani), 4×400 m (Sito, Aceti, Meli, Scotti), 20 km women’s walk (Trapletti), long women (Iapichino), 4×400 mixed (Sito, Polinari, Scotti, Mangione). 4 bronzes: 800 m (Tecuceanu), 1,500 m (Arese), 20 km walk (Fortunato), 100 women (Dosso). At the conclusion of this great undertaking by the Azzurri, SIR interviewed Claudia Giordani, winner during her career of an Olympic silver medal in the special slalom in Innsbruck in 1976 and of three World Cup races. She was a leading athlete of the Italian women’s ski team of the seventies, the so-called “Pink Avalanche”. Today you are vice-president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).

What assessment can we make of these European championships?
It was wonderful. The charm of athletics is always evident, direct and engaging, moreover in such an important place for sport, for Italy and for the blue jersey in general.

The great emotions that we have experienced and are experiencing give us an understanding of the reality of the world of Italian sport, which is currently going through important days, made up of results, medals and records coming from all disciplines.

Therefore, Italian sport is multidisciplinary and the result of many years of work by all sporting bodies.

The Azzurri dominated “at home”. Does that make it a little more special?
The environment certainly created optimal conditions. Big events are an opportunity for spectacle and entertainment for everyone. Rome has added its charm to that of the world of athletics which, with its deeds and undertakings so different from each other, manages to interpret the abilities, beauty and freedom of the human being to express himself in many ways.

It was beautiful and the Azzurri were really great. Applause must also be given to all the technical staff and to those who contribute to the preparation and performance of the athletes.

In this period, Italy is experiencing a great moment in sport, starting from these Europeans, up to successes in tennis as well as in numerous disciplines. If the results of the Tokyo Olympics came as a bit of a surprise, today we can say that a lot is expected from the athletes. How do we get to this edition of the Games?
The appointment with the Games is of indescribable importance for each athlete. You can’t imagine how much this matters for every athlete. Many qualify, but many more fail to do so. Nowadays they say that it is easier to qualify for an Olympics than to finish on the podium.

Having arrived in just a few weeks with such a compact, determined and united team, but above all strong and ready, is not for everyone and is a good omen.

Even the following that the Italian team has today has never been recorded in the past. Sport is having its visibility and recognition of the role it has in society. This, thanks to the male and female athletes who are inspirational and wonderful kids, who fill our hearts with their joy and their hopes. I hope this message goes beyond the results in the race.