Barcelona, the Italian epee ladies in triumph

Fencing, results

A great Italy triumphed in the team event that closed the Women’s Epee World Cup stage in Barcelona. The team composed of Giulia Rizzi, Federica Isola, Sara Maria Kowalczyk and Roberta Marzani è climbed on the highest step of the podium, overcoming China in the final at the sunset of an exceptional day, which confirmed the Italian epeeists as queens of the international scene even with an “experimental” lineup, without the other two Olympians Rossella Fiamingo (yesterday bronze together with Lucrezia Paulis) and Alberta Santuccio.

The foursome of CT Dario Chiadò – for his staff led the expedition to Catalonia masters Roberto Cirillo, Daniele Pantoni and Alfredo Rota – dished out a sumptuous performance. In the round of 16, the Azzurri overcame host Spain with a score of 45-39, then repeated themselves in the quarterfinal round in which they got the better of’Hungary 42-38. Compact, determined to impress, Italy continued its path by imposing itself in the semifinals over France with a score of 45-37, thus detaching the pass for the last act. The final against China put the seal on a resounding Sunday: 45-37 the verdict that made the Mameli anthem ring in Catalonia.

A year later, Italy’s women’s epee è thus returned to triumph in the World Cup stage in Barcelona, where with the victory twelve months ago began the ride to Olympic gold. Giulia Rizzi was featured then and again now, this time with Federica Isola, Sara Maria Kowalczyk and Roberta Marzani. This closes a super Spanish weekend for the Italian women swordsmen, who had won two bronze medals in yesterday s individual competition with Rossella Fiamingo and Lucrezia Paulis.