A triumph awaited for seventeen years: Italy’s women’s swordsmanship is European champion in the championships taking place in Basel. The last time it happened was in 2007 in Ghent (then Boscarelli, Del Carretto, Cascioli and Moellhausen rejoiced). Alberta Santuccio, Mara Navarria, Rossella Fiamingo and Giulia Rizzi signed the Italian triumph in the women’s sword, overcoming Hungary 38-31 in a beautiful final. Italy, led by coach Chiadò, dominated the quarter-final against Israel, winning 45-15. The masterpiece of the blue swordsmen, however, reached the semi-final against France: an assault that the girls led from the beginning, not giving up anything, with an impressive collective performance that involved the entire quartet, achieving success by 32-31 . In the final there was a fight against Hungary for the gold: Navarria and Fiamingo did a relay ensuring the usual experience and effectiveness, Santuccio pushed hard as always and Rizzi took responsibility for the last fraction bringing the Italy triumphs. A victory that is worth double, because it gives the team of blue swordsmen the certainty of 1st place in the world ranking, with which they will arrive at the Paris Olympic Games.
disbelief
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“It didn’t seem possible to become the number 1 team in the world just a few months ago – says Rossella Fiamingo -, we managed to do it by deserving it, with our run in the Cup, and we confirm ourselves up there by winning this European Championship that we have wanted for years, an immense joy for our team. It is a historic result for the Italian women’s sword, and we, two Sicilians and two Friulians, are proud to have achieved it. And now we’re aiming for Paris.”
men of bronze
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A bronze medal, however, for the men’s foil team of coach Stefano Cerioni. The individual gold and silver medalists Tommaso Marini and Alessio Foconi, Guillaume Bianchi and Filippo Macchi conquered the podium by dominating the challenge for the third step against Poland, defeated 45-25 after an always commanding match. During their match, the Azzurri debuted against Belgium, winning by force with a score of 45-28. In the semi-final the foil players had fought point for point against Hungary, who however managed to prevail at the last shot, with the result 44-43. Italy’s men’s foil team, making their first appearance in a major competition after the forced retirement of captain Daniele Garozzo, did however do very well at regrouping and putting all their desire for a medal on the stage, winning it in the bronze final by overcoming Poland.
