The Italian Paralympic foosball team makes history in Germany
One of those achievements destined to remain etched in the memory of a society and a sports movement. The Italian Paralympic foosball national team made history in Saarbrücken, Germany, achieving extraordinary success at the 2026 ITSF World Series Leonhart, which ran through Sunday. A result that honors all of Italian sports, across all disciplines and categories. Four gold medals, one silver, and one bronze, for a total of six podium finishes. All of this was crowned by a feat never before achieved: winning all four events contested. This is a record, especially when you consider that the previous best was “only” three consecutive victories—which speaks volumes. The four-for-one sweep in Saarbrücken rewards the hard work, technical skill, and determination of a team capable of excelling in both individual and team events.
“There are victories remembered for a medal, and others that go down in history for what they represent. The one in Saarbrücken is one of these,” comments Francesco Bonanno, president of the Italian Paralympic Table Soccer Federation (FPICB), and not by chance. “We won four gold medals and six medals overall, but above all, we demonstrated that Italian Paralympic table soccer is a force capable of competing, winning, and making its mark on the international sports scene,” Bonanno continues.
The Double Inclusive competition kicked off the series of Italian successes, with Italy literally monopolizing the podium. Francesco Bonanno and Massimo Caruso took the top spot, delivering a performance that secured the Italian delegation’s first gold medal of the event. Silver went to Marco Bertelli and Domenico Smario, while Vito Loris Bonaldo and Michele Nasti rounded out the Italian triumph by winning bronze and claiming the final spot on the podium.
Gold was also secured in the Paralympic Single Sculls, with a victory that was never in doubt for Domenico Smario, who held his own against top-tier international opponents. This triumph takes on even greater significance when one considers that the Italian athlete prevailed over the host nation’s team, Germany.
It was the same brilliant performance in the Paralympic Doubles, with the ever-reliable Smario winning the gold medal alongside his teammate Paolo De Florio: the pair defeated Belgium at the end of a hard-fought race.
The National Team competition capped off the Italian team’s unforgettable campaign with a gold medal won by Domenico Smario, Paolo De Florio, Francesco Perin, Daniele Costantino, Vito Loris Bonaldo, and Angelita Alves, under the guidance of coach Michele Nasti. This team successfully transformed individual talent into collective strength, demonstrating just how much cohesion and teamwork can make a difference at the highest international levels.
In addition to the medals, the 2026 Leonhart World Series also gave the Italian delegation a result of great sporting and inclusive value. In the Open Doubles, in fact, Italy’s Angelita Alves competed alongside Swiss athlete Laura Sabbioni, reaching the quarterfinals after facing off against men’s teams as well. This performance highlighted the qualities of the two athletes and the ability of foosball to provide opportunities for athletic competition regardless of gender.
