Samele, bronze in sabre and hug to Mattarella

PARIS – The second Italian medal, a bronzeand a hug to the president Sergio Mattarella present at the Grand Palais: “I couldn’t avoid it, I did it and I was left speechless”. When the Olympics arrive, he lights up Samele’s Teeth. Twelve years ago, as a boy, he helped the team win the bronze medal at the London Olympics. Nine years later, after losing at the Rio Olympics, he won an unexpected silver in Tokyo, losing in the final only to the Hungarian Aron Szilagyi, to his third consecutive Olympic gold. But after three very tough seasons, at 37 years old, the Foggia native who settled in Bologna is back on the podium: bronze in sabre on the first day in the majestic setting of the Grand Palais. “It’s incredible to have won two medals in two consecutive Olympics,” said Samele. “You have to believe in yourself, as I have done since I was a child. I had moments of despair, but he wanted this medal too much.”

Olga Kharlan, Samele’s girlfriend

After losing in the semi-final against the Korean OhSamele took a 2-0 lead against the Egyptian Ziad Elsissythen he went down 4-6, finally he took the momentum: 8-6, 11-7 to respond to the final attack of his opponent who had brought the score to 13-12. For Italy it is the second medal at the Paris Olympics. A bronze that weighs a lot on a symbolic level: Samele is the boyfriend of Olga Kharlana symbol of Ukrainian sport, also a sabre champion overwhelmed by the Russian invasion in 2022. The Italian was the protagonist of a dangerous journey with her to save the family, whose members who remained in Ukraine are often forced to hide for hours in the underground shelter in Mykolaiv.