Rio 2016: Italy closes its XXXI ^ olympiad with 28 medals

(To Anita Fiaschetti)
22/08/16

28 medals: 8 golds, 12 silvers and 8 bronzes. A nice booty that of Italy that, at the Rio Olympics, closes in ninth place. Technique, determination, character and passion; emotions, disappointments, tears and smiles: a whirlwind that lasted two weeks that made us feel proud of our boys.

314 the blue athletes landed in Rio de Janeiro, many of them belonging to the sports groups of the Armed Forces and the State Police. The first medal of the Italian expedition comes from Rossella Fiamingo (Forestry), who wins the silver in the sword. It is Fabio Basile (EI - photo at the bottom) who gives us the first gold, the 200simo in Italian history at the Olympics, in the judo category 66 kg. In the same discipline, category 52 kg, Odette Giuffrida (EI - photo opening) won the silver.

Gold also in the foil with Daniele Garozzo (Fiamme Gialle) and in the Omnium with Elia Viviani, a result that Italy had lacked for sixteen years. Silver for Elisa Di Francisca (Fiamme Oro) in the individual foil. Bronze for Elisa Longo Borghini (Fiamme Oro) in road cycling, for Tania Cagnotto (Fiamme Gialle) in the 3 trampoline me for Frank Chamizo (EI) in the wrestling competition 65 kg.

But it is in the shooting that Italy shows all its talent, coming to win well 7 medals: 4 golds - 2 of Niccolò Campriani (Fiamme Gialle), 1 of Diana Bacosi (EI) and 1 of Gabriele Rossetti (Fiamme Oro) - and 3 silvers, by Chiara Cainero (Forestale), Giovanni Pellielo (Fiamme Azzurre) and Marco Innocenti respectively. To give us emotions also the swimming with gold by Gregorio Paltrinieri in the free style 1500 m, the silver by Rachele Bruni (EI) in the background (10 km) and the two bronzes by Gabriele Detti (EI - photo) in 400 me in 1500 m freestyle.

Italy is no less important in team games, where it proves to be always present and competitive. In the male sword, silver for Andrea Santarelli (Fiamme Oro), Marco Fichera, Enrico Garozzo (CC) and Paolo Pizzo (AM). Silver in beach volleyball for Daniele Lupo and Paolo Nicolai, both from the Italian Air Force. Silver also for the men's national volleyball team and in the 3 m diving competition with Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dallapé (EI). In water polo the Settebello wins the bronze against Montenegro, while the Setterosa won the silver against the American champions. 2 the bronzes in the rowing: in the "2 without" with Giovanni Abagnale (MM) and Marco Di Costanzo and in the "4 without" with Matteo Castaldo, Giuseppe Vicino, Matteo Lodo and Domenico Montrone.

For an Olympic Games that closes, another is almost ready to start: that of paralympism. Besides 4300 athletes from 176 countries that, from the 7 September and up to the 18, will compete for the 528 titles up for grabs. Beyond 100 the blues who will compete in the various disciplines. Among them, in addition to the standard-bearer Martina Caironi, also Assunta Legnante, Alex Zanardi, Bebe Vio, Eleonora Sarti, Giusy Versace and Monica Contrafatto, the latter belonging to the Paralympic Defense Sports Group.

(photo: Defense)