Sara Curtis gives Italy a historic medal: young champion reveals backstory
It is a historic medal that Sara Curtis won Saturday night in Lublin in the final of the 100-meter freestyle at the European Short Course Championships being held in Lublin, Poland. The bronze won by the young Italian champion is in fact the first ever medal in the specialty for the Italian colors. A success to which, among other things, is also added the new Italian record, 51″26, in a very fast race, won by the Dutch Marrit Steenbergen with a time of 50″42, a new European (and Championships) record. On the sidelines of the race, Curtis told a backstory that makes his medal even more valuable.
“I am delighted, because I have been cold for a few days – the Savigliano native, class of 2006, coached in Italy by Thomas Maggiora, told the official channels of the Federnuoto, telling a backstory -. Moreover, the program of these Europeans is not optimal for me. I can only be happy for my first international individual medal. I am so tired but proud of what I am doing”. Curtis dedicated the podium to her fellow university students in the U.S.: “A thought to my fellow students at Virginia University who are watching me from the United States and supporting me from a distance. An immense joy to compete for Italy and to be part of this group”.
Between the new European champion Marrit Steenbergen and Sara Curtis stood, with a time of 50″60, France″s Beryl Gastaldello, who therefore won the silver medal. Off the podium, however, were Britain″s Eva Okaro, fourth in 51″63, the other Dutchwoman Milou van Wijk, fifth in 51″89, Germany″s Nina Jane Holt, sixth in 52″16, Czech Barbora Janickova, seventh in 52″26, and Hungary’s Minna Abraham, who finished last in the final with a time of 52″54. Curtis, making her second appearance at the European Short Course Championships after competing two years ago in Otopeni, won a total of six medals in the two events.
The young Italian champion, just in the short pool, is co-holder of the world record in the 4×50 freestyle mixed, set just in Lublin along with Leonardo Delplano, Lorenzo Zazzeri and Silvia Di Pietro.
