European Swimming Championships: Paltrinieri's triumph, gold in the 10 km

"Mamma mia, who competes".

Gregorio Paltrinieri seems almost amazed at himself after his triumphal encore in the icy waters of Lupa Lake, which has become his 'golden lake' overlooking Tokyo.

The Italian Olympian arrived in Budapest to compete with the best cross-country swimming specialists, all Europeans, and to be listed in view of the Games, where he aims for an unprecedented trio of 800-1.500-10km.

The response was shocking, especially for the opponents: gold in the 5 kilometers yesterday, gold today in the double distance, the Olympic one, and with the strength of the dominator.

The champion from Carpi won the race alone with a time of 1h51'30 "6, ahead of the 24-year-old Frenchman Marc-Antoine Olivier by more than eleven seconds - 2019 world silver, Olympic bronze and already yesterday behind the blue in the 5 km - and the 23 year old German Florian Wellbrock, world champion of distance and 1500. One second from the podium the 29 year old Dutch Olympian Ferry Weertman. Paltrinieri did not beat them, he dominated them, taking home the first continental medal for Italy in the 10 kilometers to the Europeans, all at the cost of an enormous effort, as he himself admitted: "I tried to swim the first two laps to spare because I was so tired; then I started to climb in progression - says Paltrinieri -. IS'It was a great race and I won with a really impressive advantage. I thought they were closer to me, so I shot to the end but in the last 100 meters I saw the stars "." If they had told me that I would have won two medals, I would have signed with blood - he admitted -. Two golds have arrived, the relay is missing where I will try to give my best. I am overjoyed. These results are the merit of the whole team, of the harmony that exists ".These results are the merit of the whole team, of the harmony that exists ".These results are the merit of the whole team, of the harmony that exists ".

Italy also takes home a sixth place with Mario Sanzullo, also expected in Tokyo, and the ninth of Domenico Acerenza. The two Azzurri in the decisive stages remained in the group of pursuers, while in the front row Paltrinieri started in the last thousand meters starting with a phenomenal progression to accumulate advantage until the gap from the pursuers was unbridgeable. The shape is already from the Olympics. Now after the relay Paltrinieri will leave the golden lake to move to the pool in Budapest and the goal remains the same as always. To win. The triumph of the Emilian athlete was preceded by Rachele Bruni's bronze medal in the women's 10 kilometers. For the 30-year-old Florentine of the Fiamme Oro this is the 12th continental podium of her career. The race was won by the Dutch Sharon van Rouwendaal,already gold in the 5 kilometers. Fifth place for Giulia Gabbrielleschi, who yesterday won the silver medal. "It was a real fight - explained Bruni, Olympic silver and world bronze in the 10 km -. At the funnel I arrived very tired but I really wanted third place. I'm happy that the work is going on the right course, in Tokyo I want to aim for the maximum ".