Thirteen years after the bronze of Andrea Facchin and Antonio Scaduto in the K2 1000 in Beijing, the Italian canoe returns to give its contribution to the blue medal table with the silver of Manfredi Rizza from Pavia in the K1 200. ‘gold.
The blue, European champion of the distance and third this year in the World Cup in Seghedino, in fact finished in 35 “080 a whisker behind the Hungarian Sandor Totka (35” 045). Third place for the British Liam Heath (+0.167), who was given as the favorite. After the sixth place in Rio, the thirty-year-old from Pavia can still be satisfied.
“I held out, unfortunately there was someone tougher than me – he said after the race -. I’m happy but with a bit of a bitterness in my mouth for those cents.” “This is sport, this is our distance and it is played in moments. I am absolutely happy, I gave 100%. Having reached this milestone gratifies me because I know that things do not always go as you think. I am proud of myself and of the people who have worked with me “, he explains again.
Federal President Luciano Buonfiglio pampers him. “We managed to put everyone in the best conditions. A great team work – he declares – congratulations to Manfredi and to the federal coach Stefano Loddo who have chosen a path, which we married, which has rewarded them”. A statement with a view of Paris. “This is a medal that must teach us that if we work seriously we can do great things – he adds – in the slalom canoe we have to take back what we missed, in speed we have to work on new distances and on Olympic boats without wasting energy. In Paris we must still be. more ready and stronger “. But now it is time to celebrate, also with the president of Coni, Giovanni Malagò, who attended the race from the front row. “He has always made us feel his closeness and his trust”, concludes Buonfiglio.
That of Rizza is the thirteenth Italian medal at the Olympic Games in kayak speed competitions. The first was the bronze in Barcelona 1992 of Bruno Dreossi and Antonio Rossi in the K2 500 (no longer in the Olympic program), followed by the silver of Beniamino Bonomi in Atlanta ’96 again in the K2 500. At the Centenary Games, Bonomi he won silver in K1 1000 and above all Rossi was Olympic gold in K1 500 (race no longer scheduled) and in K2 1000 together with Scarpa. Rossi, four years later, confirmed himself as Olympic champion but together with Bonomi. In Athens 2004, Rossi and Bonomi were silver and four years later Facchin and Scaduto were bronze. In the women’s field, the four medals, including the gold of Sydney 2000, by Josefa Idem must be counted.
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