Gold Italy and world record in the 4×50 medley relay, encore Greg

At the World Championships in Melbourne in short course triumph for the blue medley relay. Launched by backstroke Lorenzo Mora in 22″65, then it’s up to Nicolò Martinenghi’s breaststroke (24″95), then Matteo Rivola’s dolphin (21″60) and finally Leonardo Deplano freestyle in 20″52. A domain in 1’29”72, first time under 1’30” for a 4×50 medley relay. Italy improves the world record it already held from the Europeans of Kazan 2021 in 1’30”14. USA silver in 1’30”37 and Australia bronze in 1’30”81. A wonderful relay that brings the blue medals to 10 in this expedition. A super fraction of Martinenghi but overall in the group, starting with the first fraction for a title that improves on the bronze medal in Abu Dhabi in 2021. Martinenghi: “I told myself I wanted to do it. The cards were there. However, nothing is taken for granted in a world final of this level. All the teams were at the top, but we were at the top of the others. We are very united. It was really nice to achieve this incredible result. I’m happy to have set the world record with my team mates. Then it’s up to Gregorio Paltrinieri, who makes a great encore with the title in the 1500s and takes the first 800s freestyle in the history of the event. Greg takes the lead by 3’45”81, with a margin of 13 cents over the French Lorraine Fontaine. Greg presses, increases the frequencies to detach the competition, a whip to launch towards the gold with the championship record in 7’29″99 (it was his, the passage of the 1500m since there was no race in the program before, improved by 3 tenths ) on the Norwegian Henik Christiansen (7’31”48) and on the French Fontaine (7’33”12), under the podium Takeda at 7’33”78. For Greg the last race of the year is truly a triumphal symphony. “It was more difficult, I struggled more than in the 1500m, tiring but it was nice to bring home the gold”, said the Olympic bronze medalist and former long course world champion of the specialty. He was also the European record holder in the sights of Irishman Wiffen. “We are fierce, records come and go but the important thing was to win, it was nice to go back to Australia and win”.

women

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Sara Franceschi is also fabulous, the youngest Italian at the Rio Games, from Livorno in 1999 trained by her father Stefano, who with an excellent breaststroke fraction launches towards silver in the 400 medley in 4’28″58, at 2”07 by the American winner Hali Flickinger (4’26”51), bronze to the Japanese Waka Kobori in 4’29”03. Under the podium the expert American Leah Smith in 4’29”18, seventh Ilaria Cusinato in 4’32”68. Franceschi was 4’30”47, she improved, she grew up and made up for not having been called up to the World Cup a year ago. She put herself to work hard and her results are this her first time as world vice-champion in the most complete swimming specialty. She says Sara: “I’m really satisfied, silver is a dream, a beautiful medal”. Too bad for Alberto Razzetti, fourth in the 400 medley, for whom not even his Italian record of 3’59″57 would have been enough against three phenomena such as Seto (Gia) 3’55″75, Foster (USA) 3’57″63 and Sates (Saf) 3’59”21. The Genoese distance to Livorno touches in 4’00”45 (53”98, 1’57”12, 3’04”53).

The women’s 4×50 medley is from Australia in 1’42″35 with a world record ousted by 3 cents which belonged ex aequo to Sweden and the USA, the same opponents of the Aussies who fielded an excellent backstroke Molly O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon a dolphin and Madison Wilson, capable of an admirable touch of gold. The USA are second in 1’42”41 and Sweden third in 1’42”43.

Revolt ok

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Overcoming the physical problems, Matteo Rivolta launches himself into the final in the 100m butterfly of which he is defending champion. Only Le Clos (Saf) in 48″98 is faster, Rivolta (22″81) is second ex aequo with Noè Ponti (Svi) in 49″07, then Kusch (Ger) in 49″20. Tomorrow the big defense of the title.