Italy’s women’s swordsmanship is European champion 17 years after the last time. In the final held today during the fourth day of the continental event in Basel, the blue quartet made up of half of Sicilian athletes climbs onto the highest podium: gold medal for Alberta Santuccio from Catania (already bronze in the individual) and Rossella Fiamingotogether with Giulia Rizzi and Mara Navarria. The Italians defeated Hungary in the finalwith a score of 38-31, and they are candidates for a heavy medal also in view of the Paris Olympics.
Clear path
The training led by technical commissioner Dario Chiadòwho had missed the round of 16 due to their ranking, it was exceptional from start to finish. Italy, in fact, he first dominated the quarter-final against Israel, winning 45-15. So he attended the great performance by our swordsmen in the semi-final against France: an assault that the Italians led from the beginning, with a collective performance marked by a 32-31 success. In the final there was a fight against Hungary for the gold: Navarria and Fiamingo worked as a relay, guaranteeing experience and effectiveness, Santuccio pushed hard as always and Rizzi took responsibility for the last fraction, leading Italy to triumph with a result of 38-31. A victory that is worth double, because it gives the team some blue swordsmen the certainty of first place in the world rankingwith which he will arrive at the Paris Olympic Games.
Historic result
“It didn’t seem possible to become the number 1 team in the world just a few months ago – says Rossella Fiamingo -, we achieved this 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 achievement for the Italy of women’s swordsmanship, and we are proud of having obtained it, two Sicilians and two Friulians, who are now aiming for Paris”.
(photo Bizzi)
