Italscherma from Milan to Paris

Fencing, the balance sheet

“Mission accomplished on both technical and organizational levels. And the 10 medals won represent an excellent starting point one year before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.” This is how Paolo Azzi, President of the Italian Fencing Federation, outlined the final balance of the Milan 2023 World Championships, which saw Italy triumph by detachment in the Medals for Nations: no other country managed to go into double figures like the Azzurri in terms of the number of podiums, nor to win so many golds, as many as 4 (accompanied by 4 silvers and 2 bronzes), which make the Tricolor soar higher than all.

“An extraordinary result, which testifies to the goodness of the work done in recent years,” added Federal President Paolo Azzi. “Wanting to give a grade to this expedition, from 10 medals, I can only attribute a very well-deserved 9, for the emotions experienced and the results achieved. Great credit to our boys who gave unforgettable days to the public in Milan, which in turn repaid us with a truly incredible cheer, warmth and affection, in a MiCo always sold-out. It was a winning bet for Italian fencing, this World Championships, which brought our sport to remarkable television shares and we were proud to have honored the commitment to the utmost, starting with a special day such as the opening ceremony, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. Thanks to the organizing committee, to all the institutions, to CONI who gave us the beauty of Casa Italia and to the Minister for Sport, Andrea Abodi, who expressed his appreciation for fencing, calling it an Italian excellence. Thus we set off again toward the Paris Olympics. And now we are preparing for the second Italian World Cup in 2023, the Paralympic fencing one, which we will experience in Terni from October 3 to 8,” Federal President Azzi concluded.

Satisfaction shared by FIS Deputy Vice President Maurizio Randazzo, Italy’s Head of Delegation in Milan: “It was a wonderful kermesse, in which Italy confirmed the trend of the record-breaking European Championships. Winning 10 medals in a World Championships is a sign of a movement in great health, and we are delighted, knowing that we can look with optimism and confidence to the Olympic goal.”

Summarizing the successes achieved, the four Italian rainbow titles were signed in individual foil by Alice Volpi in the women’s and Tommaso Marini in the men’s, then by the foil team (Arianna Errigo, Martina Favaretto, Francesca Palumbo and Alice Volpi, under the eyes of the legendary Irene Camber who was present in the authorities’ gallery) and by the team of epeeists (Gabriele Cimini, Davide Di Veroli, Andrea Santarelli and Federico Vismara) who brought Italy back to that “throne” 30 years after the last time.

There were also four silvers won by Davide Di Veroli and Alberta Santuccio in men’s and women’s epee, by foilist and new mother Arianna Errigo (four months after the birth of her baby twins) and by the team of female epees (Rossella Fiamingo, Federica Isola, Mara Navarria and Alberta Santuccio). Finally, there were two bronze medals, both in the women’s category, penned by Martina Favaretto in foil and Mara Navarria in epee. Excellent premises toward the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.