Objective achieved: Italy’s sports team celebrates at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, setting – one day after the end of the competitions – a new record for medals for the event. Whatever happens, they will be the richest Games ever in terms of laurels won. On the day which also set the record for the day with 36 podiums, Italy broke the barrier of 200 medals (the provisional figure is 223) and improved the previous record which belonged to the same Azzurri (the 193 won in Bari 1997). Tomorrow the curtain will fall on the event which Italy – after the false start of the first day, with Turkey ahead for twenty-four hours – dominated from the start, extending the gap over the other nations day by day. A race apart, that of the Azzurri, always masters of the medal table which sees them first at 223 (73 gold, 78 silver and 72 bronze). Turkey is lapped and follows, so to speak, at 104. Greece is on the lowest step of the podium with 71 laurels. Tomorrow the last three titles up for grabs, the men’s and women’s half marathon, and the final of the water polo tournament with Settebello taking on Montenegro, could serve to add to the spoils. Today gave the Azzurri the beauty of 36 medals (10 gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze). «It is always difficult to predict successes – comments the general secretary of CONI, Carlo Mornati, with satisfaction – it is true that we were coming off excellent seasonal results, but beating a historic record like that of Bari ’97 was not a given, and perhaps even came unexpectedly.
It’s a long wave that passes from the Olympics to the European Championships, from the World Cup to the Mediterranean Games, the Italian sports movement confirms that it is up to the task.” Ten gold medals for the day: two come from rowing, in the women’s lightweight doubles with the duo of Elena Sali and Melissa Schincariol, and in the same specialty among men with the duo of Tito Christoforakis and Giovanni Borgonovo. Two successes come from gymnastics with Benedetta Gava, first in the women’s vault and floor exercise. Leonardo Tomasini also wins in sailing. Even today the contribution of athletics was important (which had to do without Filippo Tortu who retired due to physical problems) with Vittoria Fontana first in the 200 metres, Ayomide Folorunso triumphing in the 400 meters hurdles and Sara Fantini in the women’s hammer throw. Gold also went to the 4x100m mixed relay and the 4x400m women’s relay. Thirteen silver medals: from rowing in the men’s doubles, in weightlifting with Toko Kegne who repeats and takes home two medals, in gymnastics with Brugnami (men’s vault), Vannucchi (rings), Tonelli (parallel bars), Brunello (men’s floor exercise). Silver also for Daisy Osakue in the discus throw, Lorenzo Bruno in the triple, Filippo Dezza in the 200 meters; and in skateboarding with Gaia Urbinati and in sailing with Pilloni and Falcioni. Thirteen bronzes enrich an unprecedented medal collection. Tomorrow the last matches before the curtain falls with the closing ceremony at the Iacovone stadium. Last act of a record-breaking event.