Paralympics: Bocciardo and the Gilli d’oro then a silver and two bronzes Bebe Vio renounces the saber trials, Morlacchi only seventh in the 400 sl
ROME. 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. “Getting to this medal – he said – is a great satisfaction that repays for the many sufferings I have had to suffer in recent years”.
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. “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 one in Tokyo «was a very difficult match, – he commented – I didn’t think I could do it. It would be great if through this message the boys could fall in love with sport, not necessarily become champions. Because doing sport enriches life “.
The series of blue medals of the first day of the Paralympics ended with that of Monica Boggioni, bronze in the 200 freestyle (category S5). Disappointing debut for the standard-bearer, Federico Morlacchi, seventh in the final of the 400 freestyle (S9). Some difficulties at the start of the Games also for the other blue flag bearer, Beve Vio (foil gold at Rio 2016), who announced that he had to give up the saber trials: “For a series of reasons that I hope to reveal later, after the competitions, unfortunately I will not do the saber competitions but only foil competitions, which are my competitions ».