Fencing: tomorrow in Russia the return to the platform of the double world champion from Catania Paolo Pizzo – Photo 1 of 15

The Sword World Cup starts tomorrow from Kazan in Russia and two years after the farewell to the blue jersey in the Calì test in Colombia, there will be the sensational return Paolo Pizzo, from Catania, born in 1983, double World Sword Champion in 2011 in his Catania and in 2017 in Leipzig and team Olympic silver medal at the Rio 2016 Games. Pizzo had already taken a step back last year by returning to the platform after the lockdown for chasing a not-too-hidden dream: taking part in the third career Olympics after London 2012 and Rio 2016.

“Right now I am experiencing contrasting emotions – Paolino Pizzo, icon of the world sword makes his debut – I am very happy to be back on the platform after two years and I leave again after I had already started this path to try to return to the Tokyo Games and not being there been races the goal has vanished. But I’m looking ahead and this race will help me to understand if all the work done made sense ».

AN ETNEO QUARTET. In Russia Pizzo will restart tomorrow from qualifying as he currently occupies 183rd place in the world ranking and the same path also for Enrico Garozzo (27°), Marco Fichera (32 °) and the young Etna Gianpaolo Buzzacchino rose powerfully to 79th place.

HAPPY MEMORIES. On Sunday the main draw, preceded by the women’s one that will start on Saturday and will see the two Etnean players involved Rossella Fiamingo (38th in the ranking) who on these platforms won the first of his two world titles (2nd gold in Moscow in 2015, before silver at the Rio 2016 Games) and Alberta Santuccio (31st). Team qualifying qualifications on Monday and the two finals on Tuesday where the two Italian teams led by the coach should land Sandro Cuomo (in Kazan the medical staff will always be from Catania Gigi Mazzone) who are already qualified for the Tokyo Games.