It was difficult to imagine a better
European
than this for
Italy
.
On the day in which the competitions in the pool close, the
Azzurri
reach
52 medals
(35 in the pool), 19 of which gold, of which two more today.
And in both there is the signature of the man of the moment, waiting for Paltrinieri in the open water tests,
Thomas Ceccon
.
The first place in the 100 backstroke is historic, because the first in a specialty that had given only the bronze of Sabbioni in London 2016 and because in this way the Venetian giant becomes the first man in history to conquer a continental title in butterfly, backstroke and freestyle (4x100) and all in the same edition.
Something that was only partially succeeded by the German Thomas Rupparath, winning in the backstroke and in the butterfly in Berlin 2002. "I just wanted to win and beat the Greek (Christou, ed), on arrival I threw my head down, hoping to touch the front to everyone and so it was - says Ceccon - The four cents lost in the fifty, I took them back tonight to close in a big way ".
The swimmer from Schio, however, never ceases to amaze because a few minutes later he also contributes to the other gold of the day, the one in the
4x100 mixed men
with Italy setting the championship record.
In short, a European to be framed, but not only for him.
"I will carry it in my heart" says
Simona Quadarella
, exhausted, but still enthusiastic about the silver in the 400 sl.
She will not be a hat-trick after those already won here in Rome in the 800 and 1500s, but today's second place is still history because she closes a circle that embraces Glasgow, Budapest and her Rome.
"Today I knew she would be harder than usual, in fact she is fine like this - comments the Capitoline champion - Now her head is on holidays for a bit of relaxation because European and world championships so close are challenging".
And even from Greece where he will go to rest his head he will always be at the next goals that rhyme with Paris 2024. That is the red circle appointment in the calendar with "the awareness that now I can bring out the best even in difficult moments, as I did. today".
With another 5 meters of tub, in fact,
Benedetta Pilato
, silver in the 50 frog, after winning the 100.
Who, on the other hand, went beyond expectations was
Leonardo Deplano
with the second place in the 50 freestyle in 21''60, two cents from the British and two-hundredth world champion Benjamin Proud gold in 21''58.
"I am speechless, I didn't really expect to take a medal. It was an incredible evening" he declared before the bronze in the 200 medley by
Alberto Razzetti.
He who had been the first gold medal in the pool, becomes the fiftieth medal (all disciplines included) of the European, confirming the words of the FIN president, Paolo Barelli.
"Our athletes are an international model".
From tomorrow the dives from great heights and from Friday lights aimed at Ostia, weather permitting, for the open water with captain Greg.
