BUDAPEST (HUNGARY) (ITALPRESS) – The notes of Mameli’s anthem resound for the first time at the Duna Arena in Budapest: on the fourth day of competitions at the World Swimming Championships in short swimming arrives the gold for Italy with the boys 4×50 freestyle mixed relay: an undeserved but definitely unexpected success on the eve of the event that becomes possible this morning when a poor performance in the battery ousts the USA super team from the final in the afternoon. The Americans will console themselves with another shower of medals and world records, but things are not bad at all for the Italians either with Simona Quadarella’s silver in the 1500, the bronze of another relay, the men’s 4×200 freestyle, and the final won by Michele Busa and Simone Stefanì in the 100 butterfly. Ready, go, and the program immediately kicks off with the race that makes the Italians jump out of their chairs. The 4×50 mixed style starts very strong with Leonardo Deplano in the first leg. Despite a less than brilliant change with Alessandro Miressi, Italy remains in the podium area when the baton passes to the girls. Well Silvia Di Pietro, reactive in the entry into the pool, amazing Sara Curtis in the final sprint thanks to which comes the rainbow title. For Italy it was 1’28″50 the time that earned the gold ahead of Canada (1’28″60) and Poland (1’28″80). “We knew we were playing for something big and we held our nerves to take advantage of this opportunity,” exults Silvia Di Pietro, before announcing that this may have been her last international race. Also rejoicing in the mixed zone are Alessandro Miressi and Leonardo Deplano: “We did well, we had to take the chance with the U.S. relay that was out, we took it and it was a lot of fun,” says the Piedmontese. “The U.S. made a mistake this morning, we took advantage of it and put our hand in front,” adds Deplano. Finally Sara Curtis, who then completes her afternoon with a sixth place (26″26) in the 50 backstroke final won, with a new world record (25″23), by American Regan Smith (25″23): “I will always keep today’s gold in my heart, it was crazy, I’m so happy” the words of the 18-year-old from Savigliano. Back on the rainbow podium instead Simona Quadarella, author in the 1500 of a great race (15’30″14) not too far from her Italian record. The 25-year-old from Rome bows only to Germany’s Isabel Gose, gold in 15’24″69. Beautiful the head-to-head between the two who run away in the first 400 meters and then give life to a close duel at a distance that went on more than half the race. Only in the finale did Gose put the turbocharger into gear, pulling away from Simona. The bronze medal goes to the U.S. Jillian Cox (15’41″29) who had set the time in the morning’s “slow” series. “I wanted this medal and went for it. I haven’t swam this time for a while, I am very happy,” the happiness of Quadarella who thus “partially archives the disappointment of Paris.” The icing on the cake is the bronze in the 4×200: good start by Filippo Megli, Manuel Frigo and Carlos D’Ambrosio keep the Azzurri in touch with the medal zone, Alberto Razzetti puts the arrow and overtakes Florian Wellbrock’s Germany: Italy third in 6’47″51, Germans only fourth in 6’50″43. Real protagonists in the pool, however, were the United States, which took gold with the world record (6’40″51) and also with the all-time record in the 200 (1’38″91) set by the first runner, Luke Hobson. Silver for Australia with ocean record in 6’45″54. In the day’s other races, title for Spaniard Carles Coll Marti in the 200 breaststroke (2’01″55), while in the women’s event American Kate Douglass (2’12″50) won, beating her own all-time record. Celebration as well for Russian (competing under a neutral flag) Miron Lifintsev in the 50 backstroke (22″47) and Swiss Noah Ponti (50″33, championships record) in the 100 medley. Finally, the sublime Gretchen Walsh, who first improved her world record (53″24) by almost half a second (52″87) in the semifinals of the 100 butterfly and then won her third individual world title in Budapest, again with a record (55″11), in the women’s 100 medley.- Photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
