5th Day: Italy woke up! Mens's foil makes Mameli's anthem ring. Waiting for greetings and thanks, tonight.
by COL Legnano 2012 on 20/06/2012
LEGNANO - 5th Day - 19-06-2012
The slogan was first used for the "Blue Avalanche" in Alpine skiing: at the Innsbruck Olympic Games in 1976, after losing miserably the podium in the giant (they were first and second), Thoeni and Gros made up in slalom, winning gold and silver. And somebody said: "A champion team could not be suddenly transformed into a nags one". Exactly. Italian fencing team is full of passion and joy, glory and suffering, but also a winning one, always. So here is the sudden reversal of eight champions just in the penultimate day of the European Championships, who gave Italy the first great day from the beginning of the event. Gold in men's foil team, like last year (same final and result), bronze in women's saber team. And so many reasons to smile, not only related to the medals. An happy end for Baldini’s fairytale in foil and a big hand to the Italian women’s sabre team, who continue to win less than they deserve.
Looking at men’s foil team, the impression remains the same: when Italians fence as they know, nothing rests for the others because there’s no nation with each of four fencers all so strong.
Austria was swept 45-22, Russia 45-32 (despite a thrilling beginning), and France, in the final, 45-32, with Avola instead of Valerio Aspromonte. A one way match, even if France is always dangerous, a little bit less than a few years ago, but capable, in the semifinals, to eliminate Germany (later bronze) which historically at least the mid-'80s, Italians fighted memorable battles. Russia down off the podium for the first time in these competition (where the squad of Velikaia and Yakimenko dominates far and wide with 7 gold medals) is definitely a news.
And what about sabre? We quote the words of Irene Di Transo, still a teammate of Bianco, Marzocca, Lucchino and Vecchi. She commented the assaults of the Italian team to the quarterfinal for Federscherma TV: "They are strong, for now they have collected less than deserve. " May be it 's true, just one year ago, in Sheffield, Italy made it through beating the Ukraine and being crowned European Champion. Kharlan and other Ukrainians had their revenge in the semifinals. Then Italy was good at keeping the concentration and winning the bronze medal without worries, 45-39 against Poland in a match never questioned.
We just said: “Russia only 4th in foil men, what a surprise!” Yes, but not in women's sabre… Velikaya, Diachenko, Gavrilova and Galiakbarova of course step on the top of the podium once again beating Ukraine, Olympic champion in office, but defeated by Russia in the last three World Championship and always for a jab! In this final there was no need of so much suffering and the victory came more easily.
Wednesday will be the last day, with men’s epee team and women's foil with Italian Dream Team looking for a revenge against the Russian great squad on the piste and an Italian aperitif. An appetizer in greeting and thanks, at 22.00. Save the date. Still another day of passion, the last among PalaBorsani and Legnano Castle.
