Panziera absolute dominator in Hungary: she leaves the British Wild at 1’66 «At the Tricolori I was more serene, here I looked at the opponents. But the weather is excellent “
/ BUDAPEST
Dominatrix with ease, now a certainty. The European queen of the 200 backstrokes is always Margherita Panziera, from the Duna Arena in Budapest she points to Tokyo and gives a foretaste of a dream Olympics. The 25-year-old from Montebelluna seals an edition of the screaming Continentals, confirming the gold of Glasgow 2018 on the most loved distance. The pearl, the most anticipated sharp one in a week that earned her five medals, including the three podiums in the relay (the last one last night the bronze in the 4×100 mixed with Federica Pellegrini) and the unexpected silver on the 100 backstroke (final repeated for a problem at start, in the first version he had closed fourth).
The highest point of a Magyar review that gives us a stronger Margherita, head and arms. Almost surgical for how she took the 200. Even workaholic for how she syruped 14 races in seven days, alternating backstroke with freestyle, individual efforts to team ones. And it matters little that the Italian record does not arrive, hence the improvement of the staff. For that there will be Tokyo and it is a certain effect that the triumph on Panziera’s 200 back, one of the most important cards to play for Italnuoto in Japan, matures exactly two months after the inaugural ceremony of the Games. Who knows if he has thought about it, in a Hungarian afternoon that becomes one of the most beautiful of his career. She on the top step, like Simona Quadarella and Benedetta Pilato. Margherita star of our swimming. Behind the disappointment of fourth place at the 2019 World Cup, the upset programs of 2020, Covid. At the Primavera she had returned with the Italian record and first time in the world of 2021 (now she is second behind the Australian McKeown), at the Europeans she raised the bar.
In “her” 200 backstrokes, she is the tyrant: she wins in 2’06 “08 with the championship record (in 2018 she had made 2’06” 18), she leaves the British Cassie Wild at 1 “66 and at 1” 79 the Katalin Burian from Hungary has shown that she can swim in 2’05 “56 at the Absolutes, but there will be time to remember. Now there is a masterful final to celebrate, controlling Wild and breaking her already at 150 meters of 48/100. Then the last pool allows her to dig an abyss, but Panziera, showing the character of a true champion, reveals herself to be a perfectionist: “At the Tricolori I had faced the most serene and lucid race, here I relied on my opponents, on not letting myself be overtaken “, She declares,” This is the only regret, on this I will have to improve. “The smile is that of the days that have elevated her to champion. A smile also seasoned with amazement, thinking about the various commitments of the week.” I’m really happy , I did not expect such a low time “, remarks the back runner of the Aniene, in the third best time in c arriera, «This means that I am working well. I am happy to have managed such a tough race ».
But the last day of his European Championships is seamless: before enjoying the most anticipated gold on the podium, there is a hand to be given to the mixed relay, then pushed by the infinite Pellegrini on the third step. Panziera changes fourth after the backstroke fraction (59 ”71), accusing the effort of the previous final. Then it’s up to Castiglioni and Di Liddo, while the Divina signs yet another miracle in 3’56 ”30 (behind Great Britain and Russia). Thus the pupil of Gianluca Belfiore can strengthen the personal medal table in Budapest: gold on the 200 back and silver on the 100 back, silver in the 4×200 sl men-women, bronze in the 4×100 mixed and in the 4×100 mixed men-women. If there were no Quadarella dei tre oro or baby Pilato world record, Panziera would almost be considered athlete-cover of the Duna Arena.
An excellent booty that, in a Treviso style, should be enhanced with the bronze of Manuel Frigo in the fast relay and the third place of Barbara Pozzobon in the 25 km open water. Yes, Margherita in Tokyo can make us dream. All that remains is to start the countdown to the opening ceremony of the Games with only two months left. –