Rome, Sept. 21 (LaPresse) – “It went very well. We brought a very large team, with 89 athletes, and rightly so, because over these past four and a half years the athletes have shown they deserved it, and our trust was well placed. Once again there was a sense of unity: not everyone could make it to the final, and in a transformation process that’s normal.” Thus said Stefano Mei, president of FIDAL, in summing up the Italian expedition at the World Championships in Tokyo.
“Once again athletics has proven to be the driving force of Italian sport: if athletics goes well, then all of sport goes well,” Mei continued. “A team with athletes who manage to be combative in the right way, dignified when things go badly, and measured when they go well. I have no words to thank them; I am even happier than when I was an athlete, it feels like I’m on the field with them. There’s great attention in Italy for the World Championships, despite the time difference. It’s athletics-mania again, media coverage has increased. I don’t envy Sinner and tennis: athletics engages young people more.”
The seven podium finishes represent Italy’s largest-ever medal haul in a single World Championship edition: from Mattia Furlani’s gold in the long jump, to Nadia Battocletti’s double (silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m), Antonella Palmisano’s silver in the 35 km walk, Andrea Dallavalle’s silver in the triple jump, Leonardo Fabbri’s bronze in the shot put, and Iliass Aouani’s bronze in the marathon.
“But looking back,” Mei added, “we see that Massimo Stano wasn’t there, Andy Diaz was slowed by an injury, Larissa Iapichino had an off night, and other Olympic champions from Tokyo like Gianmarco Tamberi and Marcell Jacobs were not in ideal condition—and that happens. It’s been an extraordinarily long year, from the indoor championships in February to September, and the athletes tried to extend the season. Thanks also go to those working behind the scenes, because with so many athletes you need an adequate number of staff.”