Swimming, from diving more Italy gold: historic success in Team Event
More gold for Italy at the European swimming championships.
A historic page: it is written by Italtuffi, which takes a gold never before seen in the Team Event. Four young azzurri Chiara Pellacani, Andreas Sargent Larsen, Eduard Timbretti Gugiu and Sarah Jodoin di Maria who conquered Europe with 402.55 points, beating the favored Ukraine second with 328.55 and Great Britain bronze with 384.70. This success, in the opening final of the XXXVI European Championships in Rome, certifies the excellent health of the entire movement. In 2021 in Budapest, Italy was silver in the team event: the musketeers were the same, with only Giovannini replacing Timbretti.
Chiara Pellacani opened immediately with a clean and safe double somersault and half-returned pike that perhaps would have deserved a few more points(58.50); Andreas Sargent Larsen placed a double somersault and half-returned grouped slightly fouled in the forestove but excellent in execution (63.00); after the first round Italy was fourth with 121.50. Ahead, somewhat surprisingly, is Spain with 138.80, followed by Ukraine 132.25 and Great Britain 130.70.
Second routine and Chiara and Andy’s three-meter synchro, the Double backflip and half back pike, is practically perfect: two bodies in one (66.00): three and a half sevens and an eight come out; the Azzurri add up to 187.50, remain fourth but catch up with Spain (192.60), Germany (191.25) climbing into second place and Ukraine just over a tenth of a point away (187.75).
Taking over the flatworkers. Sarah Jodoin di Maria presents the house specialty: a double back flip handstand with a one-and-a-half twist held great, despite the usual wrist problem, and closed at the right time (63.00). Larsen is in excellent form and the grouped Quadruple and half forward somersault is outstanding in all phases (75.85).
Italy flies in the lead with 335.35 points, behind Ukraine with 328.55 and Great Britain with 332.30; Spain slips to fourth place with 305.20. Closing at the double somersault and half back with a one-and-a-half twist by Sarah Jodoin di Maria and Eduard Timbretti Gugiu: the Azzurri are an almost unique figure: the 67.20 points goes more than well (402.55); the Ukrainians file something down, thanks to an outstanding triple somersault and half forward pike by Bailo and Boliukh but remain behind and silver (382.55). Spendolini and Williams fouled the triple somersault and half back pike (62.40) and Great Britain was bronze with 384.70.
