Trisome Games, the National Basketball Team with Down Syndrome wins the gold medal

Gold. More deserved than ever. These guys are as gold as gold, those of the National Basketball Team with Down Syndrome, who – after 4 European Championships and 2 World Cups – also won the gold medal at the Trisome Games, underway in Antalya, Turkey from 16th to 26th March. A victory that came at the end of a very hard-earned match, won by beating the home team in the final with a score of 18-17.

Italbasket with Down Syndrome succeeded in winning the most coveted trophy for the fourth time. In a very close match from start to finish (partials: 3-5; 6-2; 3-3; 6-7), the team coached by coach Giuliano Bufacchi (technical assistants: Francesca D’Erasmo and Mauro Dessì) triumphed in what are considered the Olympics reserved for athletes with Down Syndrome.

“World Champions!”, commented Luca Pancalli, president of the Italian Paralympic Committee, through his social channels. “Once again the Italian national basketball team FISDIR confirms itself at the top of the world with gold at the Trisome Games in Antalya. A great success which is the result of the great work done by the Federation and the technicians and the talent of these extraordinary champions. Congratulations, you have once again raised the name of Italy high.”

It is not the first time that this team fills our country with pride. Already in September last year the national team had won, for the third time, the European Championships, and in 2022 also won the title of World Champions, also there for the third time in a row, after the 2017 European Championship, the World Cup of 2018 and those of 2019.

photo ">

Despite the large Turkish crowd packing the stands – and the support of many fans from Italy – and a few too many refereeing mistakes, Bufacchi’s Azzurri did well to impose themselves on the home team. A success, the one obtained in Antalya, the result of hard work, a victory sought and desired by the boys and the national technical staff.

Great, therefore, Stefano Barollo, Alex Cesca, Andrea Durante, Flavio Fiorini, Alessandro Greco, Francesco Leocata, Davide Paulis and Andrea Rebichini. Paulis was the star of the match, with 13 points on the scoresheet.

photo ">

“Brilliant”, commented the coach. “For years the matches against Turkey have been of the highest level because their coach, with whom we are friends, works well, like us… so the satisfaction is greater when you beat a friend. Next time Will they win? Possible. That’s the beauty of sport.”

The Head of Delegation Gaspare Majelli was also enthusiastic. “Our basketball team – he said – after winning all the qualifying and semi-final matches, won the title of world champion at the Trisome Games 2024. The final played against Turkey, the organizing country, was full of great emotions, played with great balance between the two teams and drawn point by point until the last seconds, all heart-pounding. Our boys, even under the scorching support of the home team, maintained the right concentration like true champions which allowed them to defend the world title.”