Italy between pride, continuity and regret. Zazzeri: “Silver is as good as gold.”

For thirty-three bloodstained cents, the golden shriek chokes blues Kyle Chalmers, the Australians’ great white shark. Silver, like in 2007, and silver, like the Tokyo Olympics. The date has been postponed with the title we lack again for Ally Merici Manuel Frigo, Lorenzo Zazzari and Thomas Ciccone, same formation, changed to enter the water, from 2021. Fukuoka reminds us of the 2001 silver in the 4×200 behind Australia and ahead of the United States, which was defeated for the first time and beat again today in quick succession. The four riders talk about their relay, which impresses them: “I’m very focused on this world championship – Merisi, the Italian record holder at 47″ 45 – started. I’m glad I swam at my level. We tried to win and believed in it until the end. All four of us did well. That’s what sport is: the Australians won, and we’ll do it again next year.”

complicated year

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Frigo adds: “Yes, we did very well and this was a rather complicated relay compared to other years. We arrived with more expectations than last year when we were not at our peak. On the one hand, we regret the lost win and on the other hand we are happy with the silver.” Zazzeri intervenes: “Silver is worth gold. It could have been won. There was a lot of talk about this relay and we knew we would be happy on this stage. So it was all the more beautiful for us, friends.” “It was a good relay. We were among the others, we pushed hard. Even the change of formation was positive. I had my best time ever. It’s a world silver medal! Of course we are very happy,” says Ciccone, who qualified an hour earlier for the final of the 50m butterfly. Continental title in Rome in 2022: Same line-up, but with tactical novelty in third place. And the second silver medal after Massimiliano Rosolino, Alessandro Calvi, Christian Galinda and Filippo Magnini in Melbourne in 2007.