ROME, JUNE 21 – Italy is always great at the European fencing championships in Basel. The Italian women’s epee team won the continental gold which had been missing for 17 years, while the Italian men’s foil team won bronze. The medals won so far rise to nine, with Italy increasingly the leader after four days of competition. Alberta Santuccio, Mara Navarria, Rossella Fiamingo and Giulia Rizzi climb to the top step of the podium, beating Hungary 38-31 in the final: the last success dates back to Ghent 2007 (then Boscarelli, Del Carretto, Cascioli and Moellhausen were on the stage). The team led by coach Dario Chiadò dominated the quarter-final against Israel, winning 45-15. In the semi-final the success against France 32-31. Then the triumph over Hungary which guarantees the blue swordsmen first place in the world ranking, with which they will arrive at the Paris Olympic Games. “It didn’t seem possible to get to be the number 1 team in the world just a few months ago, we achieved it by deserving it, with our run in the Cup, and we confirm ourselves up there by winning this European Championship that we’ve wanted for years, an immense joy for our team. It’s a historic result for the Italian women’s sword, and we are proud to have achieved it, two Sicilians and two Friulians, who are now aiming for Paris”, the words of Rossella Fiamingo. Bronze, however, for the men’s foil team of coach Stefano Cerioni. Individual gold and silver medalists Tommaso Marini and Alessio Foconi, Guillaume Bianchi and Filippo Macchi took the podium by dominating the match for third place against Poland, defeated 45-25. (HANDLE).
