With 28 year old Anna Danesicentral player of the women’s national volleyball team, has won three gold medals in Paris from Roncadelle, the town of 9300 inhabitants in the Brescia area. The triumph of the Italian captain Julio Velasco follows in fact that of the 26 year old Alice Bellandi in judo category 78 kilograms and 30 year old John DeGennaro in the kayak, arriving by a curious coincidence within just 19 minutes of each other, on August 3. “The dedication goes to my family, to my boyfriend, to my grandparents, who are no longer with us and to the many coaches and companions I have had over the years, who have helped me achieve my dream,” Danesi commented immediately after the event.
In the Olympic medal table Roncadelle finishes in a virtual 28th placewith the same number of golds as giants such as Brazil, Iran, Ukraine, Romania and Belgium and ahead of countries with good sporting traditions such as Denmark, Croatia, Jamaica, Switzerland and Portugal.
“Surrounded by three Olympic golds, sitting between two. Great Alice and Anna, great Giovanni,” commented the mayor of Roncadelle, Roberto Groppelli, on his Instagram profile, posting a photo of himself with the three Olympians. Groppelli had already said he was honored to “have citizens like them, who have proven themselves to be champions in sports and in life,” and now he has made it known that he is expecting them to celebrate, probably in September after the athletes’ well-deserved vacation.
