Paris 2024 Olympics, the 4×100 Azzurra must abdicate
No medal in the 4×100
Three years after the resounding gold in Tokyo, the Azzurri of the 4×100 failed to repeat, ending with a bitter fourth place in the final of the fast athletics relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
On the wet track in Saint-Denis, Marcell Jacobs and his teammates were in the running for the podium until the last fraction, when forò FilippomTortu, a hero in Japan but back from individual disappointment in the 200 m, è was caught and overtaken on the finishing straight by Canada (surprise gold in 37"50) but also by South Africa second in 37'57 and Great Britain third with 37"61.
To be forgotten was the performance of the heavily favored U.S.A., which bungled the changes, finished seventh and was ultimately disqualified for a clear lane invasion.
Italy won a total of 40 medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, setting a new record for the number of metals placed around its neck in a single Olympic Games. Standing on the highest step; top step of the podium in Japan were Marcell Jacobs – Men’s 100 meters, Gianmarco Tamberi – Men’s high jump, Massimo Stano – Men’s 20 km march, Antonella Palmisano – Women’s 20 km march, Men’s 4×100 relay – Lorenzo Patta, Marcell Jacobs, Eseosa Desalu, Filippo Tortu, Federica Cesarini and Valentina Rodini – Rowing, women’s lightweight doubles, Francesco Lamon, Simone Consonni, Jonathan Milan and Filippo Ganna – Cycling, men’s team pursuit, Luigi Busà – Karate, kumite -75kg and Vito Dell’Aquila – Taekwondo, -58kg.
