Italian
Italy finishes the European Swimming Championships in second place in the medal table. The decisive factor was Quadarella’s umpteenth gold and the four silvers by hundredths
PARIS (FRANCE) – If in the case of athletics the final victory in the medal table was won at the very last hundredth over the Great Britain home team, in swimming it was exactly one hundredth that took away the same joy from us.
A fight side by side, with Italy immediately rejoicing thanks to the third consecutive gold medal of the immense Simona Quadarella, and the third triple (400, 800, and 1500) of her incredible career after Glasgow 2018 and Budapest 2021. Only to be left with a scream in their throats for those four silvers. Thomas Ceccon in the 100 backstroke, Benedetta Pilato in the 50 breaststroke just one hundredth away from gold, and the two 4×100 mixed relays.
The total count reads second place both in the overall medal table for aquatic sports with 43 (13-15-15) and in the swimming pool table with 20 (6-8-6). The British triumph in both, only for the greater number of golds, with 26 medals (14-4-8) and with 14 (8-2-4). The Azzurri retain the victory in the Nations ranking.
Third are the Neutral Athletes B with 10 golds, 9 silvers, and 13 bronzes (32 medals), and fourth is Germany with 9 golds, 11 silvers, and 12 bronzes, also at a total of 32 podiums.
It all started with the five gold medals of Chiara Pellacani, along with a silver and a bronze, and the two silvers in high diving for the victory of the first partial medal table. There were 7 medals in artistic swimming (3 silvers and 4 bronzes). Then it was time for open water swimming with the 2 gold masterpieces of Ginevra Taddeucci, in addition to a silver and 4 bronzes.
Finally, swimming in the pool with 6 golds, 8 silvers, and 6 bronzes. The absolute protagonists are the aforementioned Quadarella, but especially the new swimming star Sara Curtis, who at just nineteen years old managed to set two world records in the 50 backstroke. First, 26”63 in the semifinals, then 26”56 in the finals.
We want to add a fifth to these great athletes. The fifteen-year-old Alessandra Mao, originally from Lido di Venezia but later moved to Mogliano Veneto to train at Stilelibero in Preganziol. For her, an incredible silver medal in the 4×100 meters alongside Menicucci, Tarantino, and Curtis herself.
Just two years away from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the path is set and talents continue to emerge, placing Italy among the great powers of world swimming.
Photo Credits: Andrea Masini, Andrea Staccioli and Giorgio Scala / DeepBlueMedia.eu
