Italy still queen of Europe in 4×50 mixed

Swimming Italy reaps another wonderful success with a resounding gold medal at the continental level. The high point comes with the 4×50 mixed that confirms itself queen of the Old Continent two years after the similar exploit obtained in Otopeni 2023. Then Wednesday also records two fourth places, a fifth, a sixth and two eighth places, as well as the improvements of the youngsters. Results that only confirm one thing: the Azzurri are carving out a starring role for themselves at the 23rd edition of the European short-tub championships, being held until December 7 at the Aquatic Centre in Lublin.

Marco Enzo Venturini

Flawless race of all the Azzurri, with the throw of rookie Francesco Lazzari that in 22″88 is worth the first place. Simone Cerasuolo kept the top (25″67) with the usual high-frequency breaststroke and a lot of anger for fourth place in the 100 final. Silvia Di Pietro (24″62) is good at staying glued to the Netherlands, which dragged by Sean Niewold accomplishes the overtaking by ten hundredths. The counter-overtake bears the signature of Sara Curtis (22″92), who overtakes Marrit Steenbergen (23″11) already at the turn. Italy took the gold in 1’36″09 against Holland’s 1’36″18. On the lowest step of the podium goes Poland in 1’36″98.

Euphoric rookie Lazzari: “A medal that gasses me ahead of Saturday’s individual event. A gold that is a dream for me”. Then it was Curtis&#8217s turn, who seemed to fly in the water and also gives her appointment to the 50 sl: “I told myself I would catch the Dutchman and I did. In the end I made it. I love relays: I like the’atmosphere when you compete all together”. Continued Cerasuolo: “I am not a great relay thrower, however, I managed. A win is always a great feeling. We are a very strong and united team”. Closing entrusted to captain Di Pietro, who puts her thirty-second medal between World and European Championships around her neck: “I wanted to redeem myself, after the eighth place in the 50 butterfly. I would say that I succeeded. It is a nice confirmation after Otopeni”.

In the day, however, there are other athletes in the pool for Italy at the European Championships. Silvia Di Pietro was eighth in the 50 butterfly, won by Danish Martine Damborg in 24″61. Still, good job to the 32-year-old and Italian captain, who finished in 25″36, paying for the slightly slow passage in the middle of the race. Simone Stefanì, on the other hand, pulled a super 50 butterfly from his hat, in which he again touched up his personal best, but it was not enough to get on the podium. World champion in the 50 long swim Simone Cerasuolo and Olympic champion and Italian record holder (55″63) Nicolò Martinenghi finally finish fourth and seventh in the 100 breaststroke final act, while Lorenzo Mora is fifth in the 200 backstroke.