ROMA
Five medals won by Italy on the eighth day of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, which bring the Italian podiums to 48. They come from swimming, cycling and table tennis. The most brilliant is the gold won by Antonio Fantin in the 100 freestyle S6, embellished by the world record. Another medal, the fourth for her, goes to Xenia Palazzo from Palermo, bronze in the 50 S8 freestyle. Then there is Luca Mazzone, who in the H1-H2 handbike category wins his second silver in Tokyo in the H1-H2 category. The fifty-year-old from Terlizzi, registered with the Circolo Canottieri Aniene, is second in the online test and puts his seventh Paralympic gem around his neck, the fifth in para-cycling (3 in Rio 2016), after the two in swimming (both in Sydney 2000 ).
At the end of a tough race, Katia Aere wins bronze in the H5 road race. Finally, table tennis. In the semifinal of class 1-2, China prevailed 2-1 in comeback over Michela Brunelli and Giada Rossi. Italy is still bronze.
Too bad for the blue of Sitting Volley, who failed to complete the feat on the last day of the group stage. Amauri Ribeiro’s girls were defeated 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-21) by Brazil, practically having to say goodbye to the dream of qualifying for the semifinals.
«It’s fantastic, it’s a gold medal that comes after great work and great construction over the years and above all after two great relay races, both silver – in Fantin’s words -. They are different emotions, the first two are shared with the group and this too in a certain sense: only one goes on the podium, but everyone’s work is inside ».
“I knew that, at the level of race management, I could have fought for victory in the second 50. And not only for my characteristics, but also for those of my opponents, since they usually start very fast – explains Fantin – Nell ‘ last bath in addition to the arms I really put my heart into it. Winning my first medal in a Paralympic and gold is something incredible, as is improving my world record and also signing the Paralympic record. The Latisana champion received compliments from the president of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia. –