TOKYO. Francesco Bocciardo gives an encore at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. After yesterday’s gold in the S5 200 freestyle, the Ligurian swimmer repeated today at the Aquatics Center in the S5 100 freestyle, winning the photo finish in 1’09 ”56. Here is his emotion before climbing again on the top step of the podium, for the third time in his career (he was gold in the 400 freestyle S6): «Yesterday’s medal allowed me to arrive at this race more relaxed and calmer. However, to be honest, I didn’t expect to be able to win the gold, I thought I was in shape, but there was all the accumulated fatigue. I am happy to be able to give my best which is the result of the hard work done with my coach Luca Puce. I hope this medal will inspire many young people to get closer to our sport ».
The second gold of the day, fourth of the expedition, wins Stefano Raimondi. The new Paralympic champion of the 100 breaststroke in the SB9 category is at his first Paralympic participation: the 23-year-old swimmer from Verona of the Fiamme Oro of the State Police won the first grasdino of the podium at the end of an excellent performance in 1’05 “35. behind the blue the Russians Artem Isaev (1’07 “45) and Dmitrii Bartasinskii
After Bocciardo, he also doubled Monica Boggioni: bronze yesterday in the 200 S5 freestyle, another bronze also today in the mid-distance, the 100 S5 freestyle (1’22 “43). Also Carlotta Gilli he won another medal after yesterday’s gold: he is silver in the final of the 100 backstroke category S13 at the Tokyo Paralympics. At the moment it is the tenth medal of Italy in the first two days of the Games. The 20 year old from Moncalieri (Turin) yesterday had already won gold in the 100 butterfly (S13).
The new entry on the podium in these editions of the Paralympics, however, is Luigi Beggiato that won silver in the S4 100 freestyle swimming category at the Tokyo Paralympics. That of the 23 year old is the eighth medal of the Azzurri in these Games, the third of this second day of the Games.