Paris Olympics Update: Italy won three more medals on Tuesday, including a gold in women’s fencing.
Italy grabbed three key medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Tuesday night – gold, silver and bronze.
The women’s epee team beat France 30-29 to claim Italy’s third gold at the Summer Games. Italy overcame a passionate “Marseillaise”-singing crowd at the Grand Palais to hand France its fourth fencing silver medal of the Games in the women’s team epee Tuesday.
Alberta Santuccio got the winning touch for Italy in overtime against France’s Auriane Mallo-Breton to complete a hard-fought 30-29 win for gold.
“It’s been emotional, especially here on this stage where we have all the French fans against us,” said Santuccio. “I was able to get stronger because of that. I had only one goal: to make that green light go off.”
There were times when the Italian team of Santuccio, Guilia Rizzi, Rossella Fiamingo and Mara Navarria struggled to touch the exquisite French team. However, the Italians continued to fight, clawing back to 29 all, before Santuccio’s winning touch.
“I hope that many little boys and girls can approach fencing and like us dream big,” said Navarria. “Because if tonight I have this gold medal around my neck, it’s because with work, sacrifice and a lot of heart you can achieve a lot.”
Other medals on Tuesday
Meanwhile, the Italian women’s gymnastics team won an historic silver medal. The Italian team finished 5.802 points behind the US team spearheaded by Simone Biles. This feat matched the only Olympic silver Italian gymnasts had ever won, which was the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam.
Also on Tuesday night, Gregorio Paltrinieri, 29, won a bronze medal in the men’s 800 freestyle final. Paltrinieri is the first Italian swimmer to win a medal at three consecutive Olympics.
Italy now has a total of 11 medals, sitting in 8th place on the medals table.