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Tokyo 2020, the blue bronzes of glory: from the Butterflies of rhythm to the Bottaro of kata

To close the Olympic medals in Tokyo, they were the blue butterflies of rhythmics. They won bronze, among the total 20 laurels of third place, Italy Team saw them triumph at the end of a splendid ride five circles. They did it, smiling, happy and perfect on the platform Martina Centofanti, Agnese Duranti, Alessia Maurelli, Daniela Mogurean and Martina Santandrea. They have opened and closed the Games. Yes they opened them. Already in 2019, the Italian national team snatched the first blue qualification for the Games, which at that time should have been played a year later. Nothing has changed, in the sports field at least in the world, for Italy he promised to get on the podium and he did it with the tricolor girls of the gymnastics of clubs, balls and hoops. Promises. Promises of dreams that then came true for those who came one step away from second place and a piece from fourth place of disappointment. Third place is always a bit like that. A small smile or a full smile, for still being on the podium and not having finished fourth.

Like the Butterflies, the other numerous Azzurri did so. Elisa Longo Borghini he obtained the bronze in the spectacular blue cycling in Tokyo and beyond, if until the end of the year the two-wheeled tricolor on saddles have also collected successes at the World Championships and at the European Championships. Elisa paved the way for teammates with road cycling. Like her too Odette Giuffrida has won her personal battle with judo, However. In Rio 2016 she finished second, dreaming of an all-gold redemption in Tokyo. There was no medal for first place at the Olympics for her, but in the Italian afternoon and in the early hours of the blue finals, Ody, as she herself signs on social media, put a victorious bronze around her neck in the 52 kg, as if had been a gold to be admired, after difficulties and injuries that had slowed and hit her on her way to the Olympics. Redemption then, for the happy Giuffrida on the podium. Each athlete brings their story with them to the podium. Also Mirko Zanni did it, winning the bronze of history in weightlifting of the pride of the other successive medals won by the Italia Team. Mirko, already medalist in the world, has lifted 67 kg, taking with him the Olympic laurel. In those same emotions of wonderful days in Japan, Nicolò Martinenghi, explosive runner of the record-breaking Italnuoto, he climbed on the third step in the 100 meters breaststroke, I was waiting for another third place also in the mixed relay that would arrive shortly thereafter. Yes, a little. It is a moment to win or lose in the movements of judo with Japanese names, perhaps impossible for the few experts, but well known by those who climb the tatami to make them. Maria Centracchio, after Giuffrida, bronze was taken in the higher category of 63 kg. The first five-circle medal for her, who celebrated with her partner Ody on the tatami mat. Judo sisters, sports sisters. Sisters like female sword fencers. United and together on the platform to aim straight for the podium. The great specialties such as Rossella Fiammingo, Mara Navarria, Federica Isola and Alberta Santuccio. The sword of the team women found other smiles and applause to be immortalized for the talented Italian photographers on the spot and for the many fans who at night, on this side of the European continent, followed them daydreaming or waiting for lunch, according to the time zone.

While Italy got off the platform, after cheering and rejoicing for the swordsmen, they also saw winning Federico Burdisso in swimming. after Martinenghi, came the second third place of the tournament. Burdisso, the historic blue of the national team, took the medal in the 200 butterfly. And they flew like a butterfly and like a Ferrari on the track, them. The blues of 4 without reinvented in a few hours. The positivity at Covid di Bruno Rosetti, firm member of the blue boat and owner and author of the qualification to the specialty final, forced the coach Francesco Cattaneo to reform the team and on the advice of those who had already won the world title with him, was Marco Di Costanzo to give a stroke of the oars to 4 without Giuseppe Vicino, Matteo Lodo and Matteo Castaldo. Straight with power and competitive anger, even against fate, the Azzurri took the medal, giving the second third place to the same boat, after Rio 2016 (where Vicino, Lodo and Castaldo had already obtained the same laurel). With the promise to make up for Paris 2024 to aim for the top step of the podium with justice, they dream of a first place in France too. Pietro Ruta and Stefano Oppo. The double lightweight blue, young and already established in the rowing world, added another bronze to the showcase. then we returned to rejoice in fencing, even if in Tokyo 2020, the dreamed gold medal did not arrive, but anyway the Olympic laurels to celebrate are there and they too are in the annals. The female foil, a legend by custom at the Games, took the third place. He did it with Alice Volpi, Arianna Errigo, Martina Batini and Erica Cipressa. Admiration and amazement then for the women of the bronze jabs, fast on the platform. Yes fast. Lightning fast and lightning like arrows on bows. And amazement of the blue world and more applause came for Lucilla Boari who opened the dance of history for the blue bow to the female and individual. The Boari climbed on the third step giving a boost of growth to the whole tricolor movement. A movement of legs and arms, like that of the Quadarella in the pool. Simona the Roman, Simona multiple world and European middle distance champion, was waiting for the medal in five circles as did her fans. The swimmer who awaits her European swimming championships in Rome next August took the bronze and did it in the 800 freestyle. Simona’s dream was free, as she finally felt a deep sense of freedom Irma Testa and all the girls in love with boxing. She is the first woman in Italian boxing to take a medal and she is the first to get on the Olympic podium.

In the 54 kg category, the Testa made the biggest dream come true. Great great as that barbell lifted by Antonino Pizzolato. 81 kg to be thrown to the sky and with the force of a tear and a momentum in the final. Pizzolato added another medal among the others won in weightlifting. He then went back to winning swimming. Martinenghi he was competing again to snatch his second personal bronze medal at the Olympics, as a team. Teamed up with Thomas Ceccon, Federico Burdisso (back on the podium) e Alessandro Miressi (future world champion in short of the 100 meters style). The mixed relay of the 4 × 100 wrote the history of swimming. And a sufferer of physique and muscles did it too Gregorio Paltrinieri, who snatched a heroic medal in the 10 km of the fund wanted at all costs, despite the mononucleosis that had stopped him a month before leaving for Japan. Elia Viviani brought cycling back to the podium, in the omnium of glory and bronze. sporting glory certainly also for the novice karate from Tokyo. She, a bit like Boari for the bow. Viviana Bottaro, fundamental athlete of the Italian national karate team, brought home a bronze in individual kata, after recovering from a personal accident and a bad injury. A bronze with absolute value, almost gold. No, perhaps absolute gold. Like her. A Vivian fighter, like Abraham. Who gave the Italian fight a winning bronze and seasoned with fast and perfect movements on the mat. The fight cheered Conyedo and Italy Team scored 20 medals for third place.

(photo @ Federginnastica / Facebook)

(photo @ Deepbluemedia / swimming)

(photo @ Fijlkam / karate-judo)

(photo @ Italian Federation of Weight Lifting / Facebook)

(photo @ Fitarco / Facebook)

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