“Thieves, thieves. Shame, shame,” the anger of the coach Stefano Cerioni it is the anger of all of Italy that had already seen another Olympic gold materialize in Paris 2024, that of Filippo Macchi in individual foil but instead had to settle for silver in the last thrustawarded only at the third Var check. The gold went to the athlete from Hong Kong Ka Long Cheung (already on the top step of the podium in Tokyo 2020, ahead of another Italian, Daniele Garozzo), winner 15-14 at the end of an exciting final, but one that will remain in everyone’s eyes and minds especially for the final moments. Macchi and Cheung, for the first 28 thrusts, were equal. The foil fencer from Hong Kong had started better, leading until 10-7, but then the Italian, the real surprise of the foil event, got excited and took the lead until 14-12. At that point the gold seemed a done deal. And instead Cheung caught up with Macchi at 14-14. From that moment on, referee Hao Chih Huang (Tapei) no longer felt like making decisions without the help of the VAR. And so twice – when Macchi and the entire Azzurri staff were sure they had won – he decided not to decide.
In the third, however, the thrust was awarded to Cheng, capable of making an Olympic double. But if in Tokyo in the final with Garozzo there was no history, this time in Paris Macchi would have deserved the victory. At the end of the match, the Italian let himself fall on the platform, desperate. And for long minutes Cerioni, together with the president of the Federscherma, Paolo Azzi, protested against the referee and the leaders of the International Federation. “I have never seen anything like this in my life”, shouted the coach, consoled by the president of the Coni, Giovanni Malagò, evidently in disagreement with the referee’s decision. It could have been the crowning achievement of a great Olympic tournament played by Macchi, nephew of Carlo Macchi, an icon of Italian fencing, and engaged to the daughter of Diana Bianchedi. “I grew up on milk and foil”, Filippo Macchi has always said. He could have put a gold in his showcase, a referee’s decision, which he will never forget, I prevented him. On the other hand, Tommaso Marini’s path was negative, starting as number 1 and instead eliminated in the eighth finals. “As an athlete I did not shine, but as a person I am proud and proud of myself”, wrote Marini on social media, who will now have to be among the first to help Macchia recover from this disappointment and try, together, to win the team gold.
The Federation will appeal
The Fencing Federation is not having it and – according to what has been learned – will present a formal appeal, with the support of the CONI and President Giovanni Malagò, to the International Federation and the IOC for the Olympic final of the men’s foil won by the Chinese from Hong Kong, Ka Long Cheung, over the Italian Filippo Macchi. The FIS, in particular, disputes the attribution of the last and decisive thrust that awarded Cheung for the final 15-14.