World Fencing Championships, Rossella Fiamingo moved after medal return

Fiamingo on world podium for the first time in seven years

Rossella Fiamingo gives herself a big smile and a lot of emotion after winning bronze in women’s epee at the Fencing World Championships that kicked off in Cairo, Egypt. For the 31-year-old from Catania, the certainty of a medal came after a 15-11 quarterfinal victory over Estonia’s Nelli Differt. Gold medal ambitions came to a halt ahead of Germany’s Alexandra Ndolo (15-10), then the silver winner (gold to Korea’s Sera Song), but just being in the penultimate act ensured the bronze medal, as there was no ‘final’ scheduled.

“When they called me for the presentation of the semifinal I admit I felt like crying,” Rossella Fiamingo told Federscherma channels, “I am half satisfied, I have the same feeling as the European silver: until I win the gold I cannot be fully satisfied, but after so many years without world medals I am happy. After the European Championships I thought ‘maybe I am back,’ however I wanted a confirmation and today I got it.”

“I am happy to be here,” added the Italian champion, who had not been on the rainbow podium since her gold medal in 2015, “despite many physical and mental difficulties. After the European Championships I also had Covid, I was not very well, but I did not care, I wanted to get here and I succeeded by giving everything: every bout for me was like a final.”

Rossella Fiamingo, see here photos of her return to the rainbow podium