AGI – Mameli’s double anthem in just a few minutes at the Sankt Jakobshalle in Basel for the gold in foil Arianna Errigo and the one in the saber of Michele Gallo. After two days of the 37th edition of the European Fencing Championships, Italy is already first in the medal table with three golds, two silvers and two bronzes, followed by France with 3 but no golds. In addition to the triumphs of Errigo, the third at continental level after Torun 2016 and Tbilisi 2017, and Gallo, the first ever, today also achieved the silver of Luca Curatoli and the bronze of Gigi Samele, always in the saber. For Italian fencing it is another historic day, also because after 19 years an Italian saber has returned to win the European title: the last Aldo Montano in Zalaegerszeg in 2005.
Errigo, 35 years old, mother of twins since 3 March last year, is fresh from the ceremony of awarding the Tricolor by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, being together with Gianmarco Tamberi the flag-bearer of Italy at the Paris Olympics. The Italian was the creator of an exciting but above all heart-pounding final, a bit like the one in ‘Gimbo’ at the Olympic stadium. In the final against the Ukrainian Dariia Myroniuk, the Monza native representing the Carabinieri went behind by six points (4-10). Then, taking advantage of his great experience, ‘Ary’ placed eleven winning hits, triumphing 15 to 10. “Now you can say that, with me and Gimbo Tamberi, Italy has also chosen two reigning European champions as its standard bearers. A bit like him, in the final, I put some pathos”, commented Errigo smiling at the end of the match. After the plein of victories in the group stage, the Italian foil player dominated first against the Romanian Calugareanu (15-7 ), with the German Behr (15-1) and with Martina Favaretto (15-9). In the semi-final Arianna against the British Carolina Stuchbury a challenge until the last thrust then won 15 to 14.
In the sabre, three Italians arrive in the semi-final. Gallo wins a perfect match against Jean Philippe Patrice (15-6) while Curatoli clearly prevailed in the derby with Samele (15-3), the latter winning his first continental medal at an individual level. In the final on one side Gallo, a 23 year old from Salerno from the Carabinieri Sports Centre, on the other Curatoli, also from Campania but from Naples, 29 years old from the Fiamme Oro and already a medalist at the European Championships both at individual and team level. At the end of an exciting match, Gallo won 15 to 10.
