Verani and Pozzobon gold medal, silver for Furlan

It’s raining medals at the European swimming championships, with Italy in Belgrade in the 25 km in open water with Dario Verani And Barbara Pozzobon capable of both winning the gold medal. The one in Belgrade could also have been the last 25km in a major eventwith the distance having already been dropped from the world championship programme.

Italian double in the 25 km of the European swimming championships

In the men’s race Italian double with Dario Verani who conquers the gold medal ahead of his national teammate Matteo Furlan. Race that started with the immediate escape attempt of French Axel Reymond, with Furlan and the German Bocks chasing. Group that is regrouped around the fifth kilometer, with Reymond leading the way for most of the race and dictating the pace. As the kilometers passed, the group was gradually selected, with five swimmers remaining to compete for medals in the final phase of the race. At the final sprint, Verani was clearly the strongesttaking the continental title after winning gold at the World Championships in 2022. Silver medal for Furlan, while the lowest step of the podium was occupied by the Frenchman Reymond. The third Italian in the race, Mario Sanzulloit was instead forced to retire around the eighth kilometer of the race.

Barbara Pozzobon gold in the women’s 25km

The women’s race was won by separation from Barbara Pozzobon. A’violent acceleration in the last eight kilometers of the racewhich none of her opponents were able to resist, allowed the Italian to reach the finish line with over three minutes ahead on the German Lea Boy, with the Spanish Candela Sanchez Loro taking the lowest step of the podium, over three and a half minutes away from Pozzobon. The other Italian competing Veronica Santoni was forced to withdraw. For Pozzobon it is the first gold at continental level in the 25 km, after the silver medal won in Rome in 2022 and the bronze obtained in Budapest in 2021.