Super Paltrinieri drags the 4×1.500 relay to the bronze medal

Budapest (Hungary)

Gold, anger and bronze. Gregorio Paltrinieri is increasingly confirmed as a true marathoner in world swimming and at the world championships in Budapest he never ceases to amaze: in the aftermath of the gold won against all bookies’ predictions in the 1,500 in the pool, he dives back – this time in open waters – and a last fraction of great thickness leads the blue relay 4×1.500 to the bronze. And with the anger of a calendar that penalizes him. It is not silver for the photo finish verdict, but this is not the reason for the final outburst of “Greg”.

“Tomorrow (today for the reader, ndr) I have 5,000, then on Wednesday 10,000. The program is absurd – the cross-country skier from Carpi says clearly -; they put the 1,500 attached to the background tests. Thus they put athletes in the position of having to choose or swim badly. They must change to protect the athletes and guarantee the show ». A bitterness that does not spoil the joy for the result obtained. In the waters of Lake Balaton, the artificial basin north of the Hungarian capital filled by a spring that supplies water to the city, Ginevra Taddeucci, Giulia Gabbrielleschi, Domenico Acerenza and Gregorio Paltrinieri are third in the bottom relay, for the first time swimming on the 6 km distance. All the Setterosa girls cheered for them from the stands.

«The conditions were very different from those of the Europeans we won – Gabrielleschi commented – It was very hot, but we bring home a medal and I’m sure everyone gave their all. Greg swam a great finish after the super race in the 1500s. I also now have the 5 and 10 kilometers. It will be a very intense world championship ». «Gregorio – says Acerenza instead – is the strongest athlete of the national team; we are only honored to swim in the era of him. It is right that he is the captain of the national team. For us it is a continuous drive to improve and give our best ». Paltrineri then went back to talking about the race: «It was tough. Then I found myself in a complicated situation because I was crushed by Wellbrock and Rasovszky and had no space to break free. However, a medal arrived and we are all satisfied ». Today all four of them are back in the water for the 5 km: Paltrinieri and Acerenza from 9, Gabrielleschi and Taddeucci from 12. –