FROM THE ENCOUNTER IN TOKYO. Unrivaled Italy. The Azzurri also win the 4×100 relay and our country becomes the fastest in the world. Blue athletics go beyond all limits, reaching 5 gold medals, two on the same day, in an edition of the Games that is unprecedented for our colors. Another perfect match, one more prediction blown up, one more magical night at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo where Gianna Nannini’s notes echo.
Italy’s race was perfect, overwhelming the comeback in the last fraction of Filippo Tortu who literally caught the last English relay runner in the last ten meters, overtaking him at the finish line with his arms raised. The fraction of Marcell Jacobs who confirmed to be the fastest of all was thrilling, there is none for anyone when he runs a hundred meters. However, it is the team that has won, united and compact along the most important ring on the planet, the Olympic one.
Italy starts very well already in the first fraction with Lorenzo Patta, at the exchange our team is already in good shape but it’s up to Jacobs. His acceleration is lightning-fast, he seems to fly with respect to the others. Meanwhile, Japan loses the baton and leaves the scene. Great Britain is the only one to keep up with the Azzurri, at the second change it’s up to Desalu to keep pace in the curve that precedes the final straight. The British move forward to the last passing of the torch, when Filippo Tortu enters the scene. He shifts the right gear with his head high, he scrutinizes the situation without getting lost, when there are twenty meters missing his acceleration is unbelievable. Mitchell-Blake feels the breath on his opponent’s neck and briefly turns to his right where he finds a blue tornado. It is Tortu who slips it a foot and raises his arms to the sky, knowing that he has entered the legend with his companions.
Italy is gold medal with a time of 37 “50, a new Italian record. Second is Great Britain (37” 51), bronze to Canada (37 “70). Further behind are China, Jamaica and Germany. Japan, Ghana disqualified.
From the curve where there are family members, managers and teammates of the competing teams, the “Volare” chorus rises high. Tokyo is true Italy, capable of going beyond dreams. So from now on we will recite Patta, Jacobs, Desalu and Tortu as we have done for decades with Zoff, Gentile, Cabrini, Oriali … The story continues, it has become a legend.
Mattarella in Malagò: “I’m proud of you”
“I’m proud of you. I wait for you at the Quirinale ». This was said by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, in a telephone call of congratulations to the president of Coni, Giovanni Malagò, on a day in which the Italian athletes won three other golds at the Tokyo Olympics, including the one in the men’s 4X100 relay. Mattarella reportedly also complimented Stefano Mei, president of the Italian Athletics Federation.
Tortu: “On the podium I will end all the tears”
«That dive to the finish line means to me that every inch counts and has a story behind it. Today this belief in it has always paid off ”. So Filippo Tortu after the Olympic gold in the 4×100 relay. «When I started I saw that the Brit was by my side – he continues – and I thought about running as calmly as possible: I knew I could take him and overtake him. I was more lucid while running than when I crossed the finish line. I couldn’t believe it was true, I immediately asked if we had won. Now I won’t be able to sleep a wink: the best thing will be singing the hymn on the podium, I’ll finish all my tears ». Then he continues: «We in front of the English? It’s not their year, It’s coming Rome again… ». “Jokes aside, they are the ones we have always taken the most as an example -. Tortu says again -. But this time it was they who complimented us ».
Jacobs: “We are the strongest Italy ever”
“Are we the new Jamaica? But as Jamaica, we are Italy and we are the best ever. We are all four superstars ». So the two Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs, after the amazing victory of the blue quartet in the 4×100 relay of the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The Patta family rejoices: “Lorenzo, what a surprise!”
“There are no words to describe the joy that Lorenzo Patta has given us,” say the mayor of Oristano, Andrea Lutzu, and the councilor for sport, Maria Bonaria Zedda. «A week ago we thought we had touched the sky with a finger thanks to Stefano Oppo’s enterprise and instead other great enterprises have arrived these days. Alessia Orro with the national women’s volleyball team did not win the medal but it was immense and it is as if she had won the most precious metal. The appointment is only postponed. Today the greatest joy with Lorenzo Patta’s gold medal. An entire city greets with infinite pride an athlete who has been capable of an extraordinary, historic undertaking that will remain etched in our minds and in the pages of the most beautiful history of the city forever ». «Lorenzo Patta, Stefano Oppo, Alessia Orro and Stefano Loddo. These guys are the pride of Oristano, the pride of Sardinia, the pride of an entire nation ”, add Lutzu and Zedda.
A few minutes later Lorenzo’s girlfriend Mara arrived at the Patta house with many friends of the young sprinter. Tricolor flags blowing in the wind and horn at will. A carousel then continued also in the city. “Behind this victory there are also many sacrifices”, underlined the mother of the Olympic champion from Oristano, who has the double card, that of the yellow flames and that of his original club, Atletica Oristano. “So many sacrifices by Lorenzo and ours too.” Then the customary thanks, first of all to the technical historian of Athletics Oristano, Francesco Garau, who had already taken other of his athletes to the Olympics in the past. Lorenzo Patta will return to Oristano on Sunday. Great celebrations are already announced, after those who welcomed another Olympian from Oristano, Stefano Oppo, silver medal in rowing, and those who will welcome tomorrow in the summer home of the San Vero Milis marina, Stefano Loddo, the technician of Manfredi Rizza, silver medal in the canoe.
Dad Mario, a soldier in the Capo Frasca shooting range, was on duty in Sardinia, but he was still happy when the gold arrived from Tokyo that brought his son Lorenzo to the podium of the 4×100 relay at the Olympics. In the house of the Patta family, in via Torino, in Oristano, another cry of joy: Lorenzo’s mother, Serenella Deidda and her sister Alessia, almost did not believe it: «It was a wonderful surprise. We weren’t expecting it, ”said mother Serenella excitedly. “Maybe we haven’t quite figured out what happened yet.”