A medal won by four, but with a special spectator and fan supporting the Azzurri. The quadruple sculls climb back onto the podium after 16 years, under the eyes of Coni president Giovanni Malagòobtaining a sensational silver medal. Just as it happened in Beijing, therefore, the Azzurri placed second and missed the appointment with a gold that has not come since Sydney 2000. Uncatchable Holland, dominating with a time of 5’40” net and beating the Azzurri by 2″4. Third place goes to Poland, who is overtaken by the Azzurri in the final. The race was extremely exciting, right from its very first developments. Initially the Dutch and the Azzurri had run away in tandem, continuing arm in arm in the first 500-600 meters. Here the decisive acceleration of the Netherlands, world record holders and outgoing Olympic champions, took place, making themselves uncatchable. In the meantime, Italy, from 1000 to 1500 meters, suffered a very slight crisis that made them catch up and be overtaken by Poland. In the final rush, however, the Italians made a comeback and took second place, which made both the public and the experts rejoice.
The memory of Filippo Mondelli, world rowing champion in 2018, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 26, It also echoes in the words of a moved Giacomo Gentili and Andrea Panizza, his great friend: “We made him a promise in Tokyo, to win a medal and bring his flag with us, so that he would be with us. So we didn’t keep that promise, this time we honored it. The race was very tight, we weren’t always precise. The start was very difficult, but we ran the perfect race: first thousand of clarity and strength in the water, second thousand of brawling. I only saw who was first, an unbeatable Holland. We ran a good race, even if initially I was convinced that we had come in third. Giacomo confirmed the silver for me and it was a beautiful moment. Months ago I would have signed for a bronze, even if gold was in everyone’s dreams, but now we are enjoying this fantastic medal”.
The closing remarks are by Luca Rambaldi, who reveals that he suffered from depression and comments on the gold medal as follows: “With this result I think I have closed the open account I had with the past. I really wanted to return to the quadruple sculls and I thank everyone for the opportunity that was given to me. I have prepared for this final meticulously. Today we can dedicate this medal to our flag, the tricolor that belonged to Filippo Mondelli. This medal is dedicated to him, it was a great loss and we have also fulfilled his dream, and I am happy that here at the Games today there is also his sister Elisa, in the eight. Perhaps we hoped to give him and everyone, including the Fiamme Gialle who I thank, a more precious medal, but that’s okay”. From rowing, therefore, comes the 12th medal for Italy.
