The Italian modern pentathlon returns to the Olympic podium with Giorgio Malan. After a 32-year wait – team bronze with Carlo Massullo, Gianluca Tiberti and Roberto Bomprezzi in Barcelona, the last individual medal was in Seoul 1988, with silver again for Massullo – Giorgio Malan broke the fast, with a splendid third place at the Chateau de Versailles.
The 24-year-old from Turin, member of the Fiamme Azzurre, who had qualified for Paris – his first Olympics – thanks to his victory at the European Games last year, after having shone in the equestrian event and limited the damage in fencing, earned himself the chance to win a medal in the 200 freestyle. Which came with a great laser run performance, complete with a comeback in the final lap of the race: 1536 points that gave him the bronze ahead of the Mexican Emiliano Hernandez (1532), the gold went to the Egyptian Ahmed Elgendy (1555 points, world record), silver for the Japanese Taishu Sato (1542). The other Italian in the race, Matteo Cicinelli, also did well, fifth with 1527.
“I have imagined this day many times”
“I knew I could do better than yesterday, it’s incredible. I’ve imagined this day so many times during the year. In this final I enjoyed every moment, this was my goal”. This is how Giorgio Malan comments on the historic bronze won in the pentathlon at the Paris Games. “I come from Italy, which is close, all my friends and family were here and they gave me so much energy – he adds – It’s incredible, I have to thank them, my fans, my team, my coaches and all the staff”.