Fukuoka World Championships, Italy fifth in men’s 4×200 freestyle
Fukuoka World Championships, Italy fifth in men’s 4×200 freestyle
A good 4×200 relay team is fifth, a second and a half away from bronze, and mortgages Olympic qualification at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Marco De Tullio, a rediscovered Filippo Megli, Matteo Ciampi and Stefano Di Cola swam 7’03″95, hinting at margins for growth. Title to Great Britain in 6’59″08 and the only one to go under seven minutes in the final; then United States in 7’00″02 and Australia to complete the podium in 7’02″13; fourth is France in 7’02″13.
“I don’t know what to say,” De Tullio regretted his performance, “they say you learn from mistakes, I made a lot of them, even in the relay, I will have to train even better. “Maybe I passed too aggressively – adds Ciampi – I am happy for me and for the team. Personally it is the best race in the last two years.”
“I am overjoyed,” continued Italian record holder (1’45″67) Megli, “because I wanted to go strong. Unfortunately I couldn’t do it to compete in the individual race so I gave it my all in the relay. I want to say that as a team we are very united and support each other; even if one of us is not in condition we make a group and overcome difficulties.” “We are not far behind those in front of us,” Di Cola concludes, “next season we will get back to work to do even better. Now let’s enjoy the moment.”
