Italy got its first medals at the Paralympics in Paris. Lorenzo Bernard and his pilot won bronze in the 4,000m cycling pursuit. Italy’s first day went swimmingly in the pool with eight medals.
In the cycling 4,000 m B individual pursuit, as Lorenzo Bernard, in tandem with compatriot Davide Plebani, won the bronze medal, beating the Dutch pair Schure-Fransen in the small final.
In the main event, Dutchman Tristan Bangma and his pilot Patrick Bos broke the world record in 3’55”396 in the semis, and will face British athletes Stephen Bate and Christopher Latham in the grand final.
Swimmers take eight medals
Italy had a strong start at the Paris La Defense Arena, winning eight medals on the opening day, including two golds.
Carlotta Gilli successfully defended her women’s 100m butterfly S13 gold from Tokyo, while Francesco Bocciardo secured first place in the men’s 200m freestyle S5 final.
“I am very happy about this competition,” said Gilli. “I always say that to win is difficult, but to repeat the win is more difficult. It’s fantastic, it’s a dream, and to do it with my family and friends who are here is amazing.”
Bocciardo, competing in his fourth Paralympics, set a new Paralympic record of 2:25.99.
“I’m very happy to have broken the Paralympic record. I didn’t believe that at my age I would be able to do it. I knew it would be very difficult, and to win this race, I needed to be faster than I have been,” he said.
“Carlotta has inspired me. She gave me the power to say I want to win, like she has done before me.”
Host nation France claimed their first gold of the Paris 2024 Paralympics when Ugo Didier won the men’s 400m freestyle S9 final, finishing ahead of Italian Simone Barlaam.
“It was a tactical battle,” Didier said. “He (silver medallist Barlaam) beat me three years ago, two years ago, one year ago, and today it was my turn.”
Italy are currently third in the medal table, unless you count it by total which would put them top.
President’s words for Italian athletes
President Sergio Mattarella told Italian athlete on a visit to the Paralympics Village Thursday that “your presence here, so numerous and qualified, is already an important goal, and I thank you for being here to represent Italy.” He stressed: “it is important what you do, your message to the world”.
The athletes presented the Head of State, accompanied by the President of the Italian Paralympic Committee, Luca Pancalli, with an Olympic torch.
The Olympic appointment “has two times, the Olympics and the Paralympics,” said Mattarella.
“In the first there is the enthusiasm, in the second there is the collection, the conclusions.
“Every four years, athletes from all over the world offer special, precious, indispensable moments to humanity,” Mattarella continued.
“In this particular period of history, it is of increased importance to emphasise how important it is to make knowledge, dialogue, collaboration and not opposition, or even clashes and wars, prevail.”
