Fencing, the criticisms of the coach Cipressa: «He is not up to par. In London with Cerioni we won 3 golds ”
the background
SENT TO TOKYO
We hated each other so much. Elisa Di Francisca and Arianna Errigo did not tell them when they were fencing companions and continue today that they are no longer seen. Elisa, at home for maternity leave, attacks her former teammate after the defeat against France in the foil semifinal: “She who should be the tip of the team was missing in the decisive moment”. Summary: Italy faces France and dominates it until the final assaults, when Errigo is on the platform. The advantage crumbles and the transalpine manage to recover and win. The disappointment is just mitigated by the success against the USA in the final that is worth the bronze, fifth blue medal for fencing.
Indiscretions reveal the disappointment of the president of Coni, Giovanni Malagò, who promised “insights” but as an institution is silent. Di Francisca, champion in London 2012, is not silent at all, on the contrary. First target, the coach Andrea Cipressa, whose daughter Erica made her debut against the United States: «He is not up to being the foil coach. The results say it, a stronger personality is needed. In London with Cerioni ct we took three golds and five medals. I don’t know if Stefano is willing to return, but he would be the best suited to fill that role ».
It is not only the knockout with France to weigh. There is also Alice Volpi’s fourth place in the individual competition to interrupt a record series: never since 1988 has Italy not placed an athlete on the podium.
In the afternoon the medal arrived, but how can we erase from the eyes the havoc of the morning, the dilapidated eleven points advantage, the mistakes and the tension that deprived Italy of a final that seemed already acquired? The girls tried it: the 45-23 with which they outclassed the Americans test, if anything, they would have played evenly in the challenge for gold against the Russians. Di Francisca again: «Perhaps the last assault in the semifinals should have been made by Alice Volpi. Arianna is very strong both physically and technically, but she suffers the important races, especially the Olympics. We saw it at the Rio Games and also here in Tokyo: it’s a shame because the other girls shot well today ». Errigo’s relationship with the Games is in fact complicated, from the traumatic defeat of London by one point (against Francisca) to the double zero in Rio (in the round of 16) and Tokyo. After yesterday’s final she defended herself like this before the cyclone Di Francisca hit her: «I questioned myself, as it should be, but the companions supported me. Thanks to their trust we managed to win ».
Companions protect their mate. Starting with Martina Batini: «We are used to this treatment. They will tell us that this is a lost gold and not a earned bronze: we got the callus. We try to do everything for ourselves, not to prove something. We are people, we do not change according to the metal we win ». Three team competitions remain starting today with the men’s sword, followed by the women’s saber tomorrow and the men’s foil on Sunday. Victory sought for serenity. –
© breaking latest news