Olympics: bronze saber and tears of joy for Luigi Samele
Olympics: bronze saber and tears of joy for Luigi Samele
Luigi Samele won the bronze medal in the men’s individual saber tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Italian fencer, after being defeated in the semifinals by Korea's Oh, è managed to redeem himself by winning the final for third place against Egypt's Ziad Elsissy.
It was a medal wanted at all costs by Samele, who after a balanced challenge took the lead by leading as late as 12-8 and did not flinch on the Egyptian's final comeback attempt. Samele, a 37-year-old from Foggia, thus won his fourth career Olympic medal after two silvers in Tokyo 2020 and a bronze in London 2012. After the end of the match è burst into tears.
These are his words after the triumph: "There was a special fan in the audience, I saw Mattarella… è a day that I can not explain. It's an incredible emotion, to have taken two medals in two consecutive Olympic editions è incredible. I had a moment of discouragement after the semifinal but I wanted this medal, I really wanted it. This audience è incredible, è it was fantastic. These fans have gassed me to death".
It's the second medal for the Italian expedition in Paris, following the silver won in the afternoon by Ganna in the cycling time trial.
