Italy’s women’s volleyball team achieved a historic first Olympic gold medal in Paris on Sunday, defeating the reigning champions, the USA, in three straight sets. This victory brought Italy’s Olympic tally of gold medals at the Games to 12.
With the closing ceremony over, and the Olympic torch handed over to Los Angeles, Italy can be proud of its achievements at the Paris games.
Finishing ninth in the medal table overall, which is based in the first instance on the number of golds, Italy had an impressive Olympic tally of 40 medals.
The table below shows the sports in which the medals were won.
Italy women’s volleyball team triumph
Italy dominated the match with scores of 25-18, 25-10, and 25-17. Led by longtime standout Paola Egonu, who top-scored with 22 points in the final, the Azzurre dropped just one set throughout their Paris matches.
This gold marked Italy’s 40th medal of the Games, equalling their tally from Tokyo 2020, where they secured 10 golds. After the match, Egonu expressed her pride, saying she was “super proud.”
Veneto-born Italo-Nigerian Egonu, 25, downplayed media speculation about her supposed rivalry with 21-year-old Ekaterina Antropova, who also played a key role in the victory after gaining Italian citizenship a year ago.
“I can only say one thing: I am super proud. And happy for these women,” Egonu stated. Regarding her final embrace with Antropova, she added, “We are a team, and with the gold, we close a fantastic year.”
“multi-ethnic Italy wins”
Meanwhile, social media erupted with the tag “multi-ethnic Italy wins” going viral. This was a reference to right-wing League MEP General Roberto Vannacci’s controversial remark in his book that Egonu’s “somatic features do not represent Italian-ness.” He was cleared of defaming her.
Italy’s sporting and political leaders celebrated the long-awaited victory by the multiple world and European champions. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on social media, “Our Italian volleyball players, playing a flawless game, have made us dream again with a historic victory that gives Italy its twelfth gold. Extraordinary! #italvolleyball.”
Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also expressed his excitement on X, saying, “Gold makes history!!! The volleyball Azzurre on the highest Olympic podium place for the first time!!! Gold number 12 and Tokyo record of 40 medals equalled. Thanks to all our athletes, Forza Italia!!!”
Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) President Giovanni Malagò remarked that Italy’s 12th gold “weighs an awful lot.” He added, “This one is heavy, I told the girls. We have won many individual ones, but this one is a team one. We just have to thank the girls. And how they played!”
Argentine-born coach Julio Velasco was hoisted aloft by the players after their win. Fans waved tricolour flags as the arena rocked to Italian hit *Sarà Perché Ti Amo* and its chorus *Vola Vola*.
Brescia village has three medallists
The village of Roncadelle in the Brescia area now boasts three Paris Olympic gold medals. Women’s volleyball captain Anna Danesi joined judoka Alice Bellandi and canoeist Giovanni De Gennaro on the top podium in the French capital.
Roncadelle Mayor Roberto Groppelli told ANSA, “I was at a loss for words after the first two golds, let alone the third. We are proud of Anna, Giovanni, and Alice. It is a dream come true, and I think we can say that Roncadelle enters the history of these Olympics.” He added, “We will certainly try to organise a nice party.”
The Lombardy village has a population of under 10,000.
