The Italian men’s track cycling team lost their title and world record to the Australians in the heats of the men’s pursuit. Italy have also claimed a further two bronze medals.
The Australian men’s track cycling team made history by breaking the world record in the heats of the men’s team pursuit at the Paris 2024 Olympics, defeating reigning Olympic champions Italy.
At the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome, the team of Kelland O’Brien, Sam Welsford, Conor Leahy, and Oliver Bleddyn posted a time of 3:40.730, setting a new world record and securing a spot in the final against Great Britain.
Italy had previously held the world record with a time of 3:42.032, set during their gold medal win at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. However, Australia shattered that record by over a second in Paris. In the final, Australia claimed gold with a time of 3:42.067, narrowly defeating Great Britain in a thrilling race.
Italy took bronze against Denmark, with the team of Simone Consonni, Filippo Ganna, Francesco Lamon and Jonathan Milan finishing in 3:44.197, just under 2 seconds ahead of the Danes.
Bronze for long jumper Furlani
On Tuesday, Italy’s long jumper Mattia Furlani also took bronze in an exciting final. Furlani twice posted 8.34 metres in his six attempts, which left him two centimetres behind the Jamaican Wayne Pinnock, and 14 centimetres behind the Greek Miltiadis Tentoglou.
“It was incredible”, 19-year-old Furlani commented after clinching bronze, “it was the greatest emotion of my life.”
Taddeucci takes bronze in women’s marathon swimming
This morning, Ginevra Taddeucci won bronze in the marathon swimming, held in the Seine. She finished 8.6 seconds, in 2:03:42.8 behind gold medallist Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands. Second place went to Australian Moesha Johnson who was 3.1 seconds ahead of the Italian.
The second Italian swimmer, Giulia Gabbrielleschi finished in 6th with a time of 2:04:17.9, almost 44 seconds behind the winner but 2 ½ minutes ahead of the next swimmers.
Today’s schedule
Italy has two competitors in the rhythmic gymnastics and the women’s 3-metre springboard diving.
Sveva Gerevini goes in the Women’s Heptathlon. Ranked 17 in the world, she posted her personal best this season, of 6379 points.
