Swimming, Italy returns from Lublin with ten medals

It rained golds, five, and a total of 10 medals today for Italnuoto, which closed the European Championships as queen. In Lublin, the 25-metre pool was more blue than ever, with the big team led by Cesare Butini leading the way: on the final day five more titles arrived, with one silver and four bronze medals.

Sara Curtis, stronger than the flu, after taking bronze in the 100 sl, won the 50 backstroke with a European record of 25"49 that erased the 25"60 set by the Dutch Kira Toussian. Another super performance by the 19-year-old from Piedmont who beats the French Analia Pigree and the Dutch Maaike De Waard. "I am too happy with the record and with everything that is happening in this European Championships, done like this I did not expect it".

Half an hour later, the Italian sprinter was back in the water for the 50 sl final and placed silver, ex aequo with the transalpine Beryl Gastaldello (the title went to the host Katarzyna Wasick). "Two races and two medals in the space of a few minutes: I wanted to put myself to the test and I'd say it went more than well. It was a week full of satisfaction and one that repays me for the work I am doing in the USA".

It was an incredible European Championships for Curtis: gold with the 4x50 sl mixed, silver with the 4x50 sl mixed and three more individual medals. The other golden signature is sealed by Simone Cerasuolo: the long-distance world champion takes the European roof in the 50 breaststroke, with Nicolò Martinenghi bronze. The two friends and teammates embrace at the finish and confirm the Italian breaststroke at the top in Europe. And Simona Quadarella also made no mistake and took the title in the 1500 sl, which she lacked in the short pool: the 27-year-old from Rome led the 60 laps as a dominatrix, winning in 15'29"93, a gold that was added to her two silver medals with Italian records in the 400 and 800 sl.

And Alberto Razzetti was the 400 medley champion, repeating the title of two years ago: the 26-year-old from Lavagna dominated in 3'58"79, redeeming within half an hour the disappointment of sixth place in the 200 butterfly. Italy also took the last race, winning the men's 4X50 mixed relay with Francesco Lazzari, Simone Cerasuolo, Simone Stefanì and Leonardo Deplano finishing in 1'30"49. The final day also gave Anita Gastaldi bronze in the 200 butterfly with an Italian record of 2'04"07. Bronze also for Francesco Lazzari who swam the 50 backstroke in 22"76. Italy returned with a smile from Poland, finishing at the top of the medals table (having overtaken Holland) with nine golds, five silvers and six bronzes.