Margherita has lost the scepter but it is a very precious silver

Panziera is second in “his” 200 backstroke, the continental crown at Toussaint For the Montebellunese is a change of pace after Tokyo: third podium in a row

MONTEBELLUNA

He loses the European scepter, but begins the ascent path after the Olympic disappointment. Margherita Panziera, in a decidedly more convincing version compared to Tokyo, slips the silver around her neck on the 200 back (2’02 “05) at the European Championships in Kazan (Russia), keeping the podium in the distance of the heart for the third continental review consecutive indoor, after the bronze in Copenhagen 2017 and the gold in Glasgow 2019.

But, at the same time, the 26-year-old from Montebelluna loses leadership in the Old Continentale at the hands of the Dutch Kira Toussaint, who won in 2’01 ”26. On the 200 backs it was in fact unbeaten by three European reviews, exactly since summer 2018: the two in long, the last last May in Budapest, and the one in the small pool two years ago. But the conquest of silver represents above all a change of pace after the sensational counter-performance at the Games, when Panziera, despite having presented himself with the second world time trial 2021, was unable to secure even the final. This time the policewoman of the Aniene, who arrived at the final act with the second half, makes it clear that she is back on the right path, but in any case not at the levels of an absolutely dominant Toussaint.

The pupil of Gianluca Belfiore touches in 2’02 ”05, almost three seconds better than the time trial swam Wednesday in the semifinal. And, above all, not far – only 60/100 – from the Italian record of 2’01 “45, achieved by Panziera at the 2019 European Championships. Toussaint of Kazan would not have been enough. If at the passing of the 100, Panziera yields to the Dutch 12/100, in the following laps there is no more competition. So much so that at 150 the advantage of the future winner rises to 1 ”10, making any hypothesis of a sensational comeback vain.

A final dominated by Toussaint, who thus took a small revenge after the unfortunate episode of the Long Continentals of Budapest 2021: due to a technical problem the final of the 100 backstrokes was repeated and in the final-bis the 27-year-old from the Netherlands lost the medal collected a couple of hours earlier. To gain was Panziera, who hit the silver, rising from fourth place in the first final. What matters, however, is that the Montebelluna is back at the top of the specialty after the Olympic misstep. The injection of confidence that was needed to attack a season full of events, which will have to revive the Aniene backstroke on the road that will lead to Paris ’24: already in December she will have to try her hand at the World Cup in short, then in 2022 World Cup and Europeans in a long way. In the meantime, however, there are the latest efforts in Kazan: now the goal is the 100 backstroke, with today’s heats and semifinal: tomorrow afternoon the last act and the hunt for a second medal. –

Mattia Toffoletto