Paralympics. Two golds, a silver and two bronzes arrive from swimming. Congratulations from President Mattarella
the protagonists
ROMA
The blue dream of Tokyo did not end with the victories of Jacobs, Tamberi and teammates: Italy continues to fill up with medals even at the Paralympics, which started in the best way with five medals on the first day. Podiums and relative satisfactions all came from swimming: out of 16 finals the Azzurri won two golds, one silver and two bronzes. The series was inaugurated by Francesco Bettella, whose third place in the 100 backstroke (category S1) comes after the two silvers won at Rio 2016. Biomechanical engineer, the 32-year-old from Padua who also boasts two world championships takes inspiration from his work to also study how to improve his swimming. But at the Acquatics center in Tokyo it was Carlotta Gilli (gold) and Alessia Berra (silver) who dyed the podium blue more than any other challenge: their double in the 100 butterfly (categories S11, S12 and S13) almost as enthusiastic as their embrace at the end of the race. «I’m very happy, I’ve never heard a race like this before. I still don’t believe it, I had dreamed it many times, I wanted to take back that title that »at the 2019 World Championships« had escaped me in London », said Gilli. At just 20 years old, the swimmer from Moncalieri (Turin) already boasts nine world championships in her palmarès. “I never thought I’d get here. The Paralympic committee is growing, ”added Berra, 27, from Monza. Then it was the turn of Francesco Bocciardo’s gold. The 27-year-old from Genoa broke everyone in the 200 in freestyle (category S5), giving the Spanish silver medal over eight seconds, and setting the new Paralympic record. In Rio 2016 he had already climbed to the top step of the podium in the 400 freestyle.
The series of blue medals of the first day of the Paralympics ended with that of Monica Boggioni. The 23-year-old from Pavia, who already boasts three world gold medals, achieved bronze in the 200 freestyle (category S5). Disappointing debut for the standard-bearer, Federico Morlacchi, seventh in the final of the 400 meters freestyle (S9). Some difficulties at the start of the Games also for the other blue flag bearer, Beve Vio (gold foil at Rio 2016). The four Italian sabers remained off the podium.
Congratulations for the first medals and for “the words of the blue protagonists at the end of the competitions” came from the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, to the number one of the Italian Paralympic Committee, Luca Pancalli. –