From windsurfing to walking, seven Sardinians already have the pass in their pocket
SASSARI. One month after the most tormented Olympics ever, here is the Sardinian patrol that will fly to Tokyo and will allow us to cheer in front of the TV. Among them consolidated certainties (the sprinter Filippo Tortu, the rower Stefano Oppo, the synchronized Francesca Deidda and the volleyball player Alessia Orro) and future promises (the sailor Marta Maggetti, the walker Andrea Agrusti and the weightlifter Davide Ruiu). Instead, boxers Federico Serra and Manuel Cappai had to say goodbye to Tokyo. While Quartu’s gymnast Nicola Bartolini, Quartese sprinter Dalia Kaddari and Oristano sprinter Lorenzo Patta are still waiting to take the Olympic pass. In the most rosy prediction, therefore, there could be ten Sardinian athletes protagonists in Tokyo, to which Marco Spissu (and Gigi Datome) in basketball could be added. It had gone better only in Rome in 1960: 14 Sardinians called up thanks to the presence of nine athletes from the field hockey team. Seven calls for the Olympics in Mexico City ’68 and Munich ’72. A qualitative leap even compared to the recent past. Suffice it to say that in Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 only one Sardinian was called up. Just two at the 2012 London Games, while five flew to Rio di Janeiro in 2016: the cyclist Fabio Aru, the volleyball player Alessia Orro, the shooter from Ozieri Luigi Lodde, the rower Stefano Oppo and the synchronette Francesca Deidda.
Filippo Tortu, 100 meters. Born in Milan, his DNA is in Tempio where his father Salvino (who is also his coach) was born and where he returns every summer. Filippo, 23, the first Italian to have dropped below 10 seconds in the 100 meters, thus canceling a record that belonged to Pietro Mennea since 1979, in Tokyo (even if he does not shine in this period) will race in his specialty and in the relay. For him it is the first time at the Olympics.
Stefano Oppo. An encore instead for the Oristano singlet. After Rio 2016 (he finished fourth), the call-up for Tokyo. Paired with Pietro Willy Ruta he will compete in the men’s double lightweight. Oppo arrives in Japan with the silver he won a few months ago in the World Cup, always together with Ruta. Not to mention the three silver world championships (Sarasota 2017, Poznan 2018, Linz 2019), one silver (Lucerne 2019) and two bronze medals (Racice 2017, Glasgow 2018) at European level and also one gold in the World Cup (Linz 2018).
Francesca Deidda, synchronized swimming.
Francesca, from Ogliastra, is the Sardinian mermaid of synchronized swimming. This is also the second time for her at the Olympic Games after Rio 2016 and fifth place with the Italian team. Now she tries again after winning with her teammates in 2019 in Gwamgju, South Korea, the first historic team medal.
Alessia Orro, volleyball.
Second time also for the volleyball player from Narbolia (Oristano), 23 years old, after the Rio Games. He is already in retirement with the national team, which however will undergo a final skimming.
Marta Maggetti, windsurf. Absolute debut for the 25-year-old from Cagliari, who qualified for female windsurfing Rs: X and is indicated by many as the heir of Alessandra Sensini. Marta learned to be on the board as a child and proved to be the new promise of the blue sail in 2013 with the victory at the World Youth Championships. Very reserved, she is a girl of great character.
Andrea Agrusti, marcia. Sassarese, 26, won the pass for the Games thanks to the grueling 50 kilometers at the last team European Championships in the Czech Republic. “I still don’t believe it, I’ve been waiting for this moment for years,” his first words after reaching the finish line.
Davide Ruiu, weightlifting. Sassarese like Agrusti, just 20 years old, he is the youngest of the Sardinian expedition and also of that of his specialty, weightlifting. European junior champion in 2019, bronze at the last European Championships in the momentum with 158 kilos lifted, to compete in Tokyo he will have to undergo a strict diet to fall into the 61 kilos category. “No sacrifice, for the Olympics I would do this and more”.