DOHA (QATAR) (ITALPRESS) – Italy still in silver. Second day at the Aspire Dome in Doha and second world medal for the Italian expedition: after the 4X100 style it is Nicolò Martineghi’s turn, who confirms the result of Fukuoka and climbs onto the world podium for the third time in a row, also considering the gold which he had worn around his neck two years ago in Budapest. The 24-year-old from Varese, Italian record holder and outgoing Olympic bronze medalist, swims free with his head after having already achieved the goal of the Olympic pass yesterday and finishes in 58″84, surrendering only to an amazing Nic Fink (58″57) who was ex aequo with blue. For Martinenghi, however, a great little satisfaction given that he puts the world record holder Adam Peaty behind him, forced to settle for bronze. “It was a very strange race – Martinenghi’s impressions – Apart from Nic (Fink, ed.) who I saw him fly in the first 50, we were all a bit slow. This shows that each race is different and that it is important to be there at the right time. I have demonstrated several times that when I need to show determination, I give it my all. For me this silver is a source of personal pride, I have lived through a difficult year and now it is a new beginning, with one more medal. The dedication? To all the people who were close to me.” In the women’s race, however, Benedetta Pilato (first of the excluded in 1’06″70) and Arianna Castiglioni did not go beyond the semi-final. With Ruta Meilutyte out even in the heats, there is a hint of regret. “I tried but I just didn’t have it anymore, I missed the last 15 meters,” admits the 19-year-old from Taranto, whose preparation, however, was not finalized for these World Championships. “But apart from the first – the reference to the Chinese Qianting Tang – I swam the other times millions of times, it was doable”. Michele Lamberti and Francesca Pasquino were out in the semi-finals of the 100m backstroke – they also lacked time for the Olympic pass – while in the morning there was an imperious qualification for the final of the 1500m freestyle, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, by Simona Quadarella, who concluded with the best time in 16’02″96, with a wide margin compared to the opponents. With Katie Ledecky largely absent, it’s inevitable to aim for the big target: “What I’m looking for is time for the Olympics, which I don’t have yet, and a couple of medals if we succeed”, she doesn’t say anything. As for the other titles of the day, gold went to the German Angelina Kohler in the 100 butterfly and to the Portuguese Diogo Matos Ribeiro in the 50, while the American Kate Douglas triumphed in the 200 medley.
– photo by Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
