Olympics, Pilate, no relay: tomorrow the return to Italy

Tears for the bronze by Nicolò Martinenghi: here is the last image that will remain of Benedetta Pilato in this Japanese Olympics. Having resolved the last doubts, the sixteen year old from Puglia will leave for Italy tomorrow. The announcement comes after the disqualification in the battery of 100 breaststroke (irregular kick), a competition in which our starlet was favored for a medal (she would not have entered the semifinals anyway because she had only set the 20th time). A sensational elimination also because the Taranto is well worth a time of 1’05 ”84 and therefore the qualification would have been accessible. The only chance for Benedetta to compete would have been in the mixed relay, where however Arianna Castiglioni, Italian record holder, will have to be deployed. Benedetta did not have her coach in Tokyo, Vito D’Onghia, who remained in Puglia because he was not called up (motivation: he does not have a license).