Paralympics, Legnante wins gold in shot put with the Gioconda mask. Parenzan and Rossi also triumph in table tennis and Barlaam in swimming

More good news for Italy at the Paris Paralympics. Assunta Legnante won the gold medal in the f12 shot put. With a measure of 14.54, the Italian closed in first place ahead of the Uzbek Safiya Burkhanova, silver with 14.12, and the Chinese Yuping Zhao, bronze with 12.21. For Legnante it is the second French podium after the silver in the discus in two events disputed, sixth total medal at the Paralympics, third time champion in the shot put after London 2012 and Rio 2016, with the silver of Tokyo 2020 in between. She becomes the most medaled Italian ever in the history of athletics.

“It was a bit of a strange race,” she said. “I was pumped up, but then in the end I found myself having to deal with a bit of emotion, because I wanted to take back this title so much that I couldn’t get the measurements I wanted. In the end, however, they were enough and I’m also happy that the Uzbek managed to throw over 14 meters, so she added a bit of spice to my mood.” Legnante wore a special mask decorated with the eyes of the Mona Lisa. “It was a project of the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna, the students drew lots of them and then with a contest on Instagram they won the two that I then used in the competitions – explained the Italian -. I chose the Mona Lisa for the last competition, the weight, also for superstition because I wanted to bring a bit of Italy here, since I always choose connections, the Mona Lisa and Paris. They told me that I am the most medaled Paralympic athlete in athletics and we hope that this curriculum in Los Angeles can serve to crown this entire career with an award from the Paralympic Committee – Assunta underlined – In 2028 I will be 50 years old and it will perhaps, and I say perhaps, be my last Paralympics: here is a flag I would gladly bring to the opening ceremony”.

Table Tennis, Gold for Parenzan and Rossi

Matthew Parenzan won the gold medal in the men’s singles table tennis category MS6. The Italian, born in Giuliano, won the final for the gold against the Thai Rungroj Thainiyom in three sets with the partial scores of 11-6 11-6 11-5. Gold also for Jade Red in the women’s singles category WS1-2. The Italian, born in San Vito al Tagliamento, won today’s final for the gold by beating the Chinese Jing Liu in three sets with the partial scores of 11-9 11-6 11-8.

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Telesca bronze in weightlifting

Podiums from other disciplines too. Donato Telesca won the bronze medal in the 72 kg weightlifting event, with 213 kg. In table tennis, Charlotte Kids she lost the semifinal of the class 3 singles (WS3), defeated 3-1 against the Korean Yoon Jiyu. For the Italian, however, an important bronze medal.

Swimming, Barlaam gold in the 100 butterfly. Antonio Fantin and Stefano Raimondi silver

Simon Barlaam is gold in the 100 butterfly, category S9. With a splendid return lap. Barlaam, already gold in the 50 freestyle in the Paris edition, finished in 57″99, setting the European record. Fourth place for Federico Morlacchi who finished two hundredths of a second off the podium. For Barlaam it is the third Olympic gold after the one won in Tokyo 2021, also in the 50 freestyle. Antonio Fantin silver medal in the men’s 400 meters freestyle, category S6, with a time of 4:49.99. Gold for the Brazilian Talisson Henrique Glock (4:49.55), Bronze for the Mexican Jesus Gutierrez (5:07.00). Stefano Raimondi again with a medal, the fourth. After three golds, the Italian arrived with the silver in the 100 backstroke S10 with a time of 59″29. The gold went to the Dutchman Oliver Van de Voort (59″04), while the bronze went to the Australian 1’01″34. Fourth was the other Italian Riccardo Menciotti in 1:01.46. Alberto Amodeo won the bronze medal in the men’s 100m freestyle category S8