Italy wakes up and rubs its eyes with a stellar result: silver medal in the 4x100 freestyle relay, an unprecedented result that writes a page of history for Italian swimming.
The blues Miressi, Ceccon, Zazzeri and Frigo close by beating the Italian record and arriving behind the US giants led by Caeleb Dressel, ahead of Australia.
Before them, another satisfaction in the pool with the sixth medal for Italy in Tokyo 2020, the bronze of Nicolò Martinenghi in the 100 breaststroke, behind the English favorite Adam Peaty and the Dutch Arno Kamminga.
"They are two very heavy medals - was the first comment of the president of Coni, Giovanni Malagò - if we could expect Nicolò's, the silver one of the 4x100 freestyle is legendary. All five guys were very good, even Santo Condorelli who he made his contribution on drums ".
Thomas Ceccon also managed to qualify for the 100 backstroke final just before competing in the relay. In the final of the 100 breaststroke also Martina Carraro. The 4 blue heroes could not believe their eyes turning the silver medals in their hands: "I have no words, I cannot describe this moment, we have written a beautiful page in the history of Italian sport" said Lorenzo Zazzeri. "For me it was already unthinkable to be here - said Manuel Frigo incredulously -, now even a medal. When I see it, I'll believe it". Martinenghi's joy is also difficult to communicate: "it's a cascade of emotions - he said - that I kept inside for a long time and that today fell on me".
The men's foil was comforting, where three out of three blues - Daniele Garozzo, Alessio Foconi and Andrea Cassarà - qualified for the second round. Immediately out of the Olympics, however, Fabio Basile, gold of judo in Rio, passed the category and defeated in the first round by the Korean An Changrim. Nothing to do even for Asia Lanzi, who was the only blue in women's skateboarding. In the specialty, a journey into the future with a gold and a silver medal for two thirteen-year-olds, the Japanese Momiji Nishiya, and the Brazilian Rayssa Leal.