WTI Magazine #40    2014 July, 23
Author : Simone Callisto Manca      Translation by:

There really are no more words to celebrate the strength of a school, the one of the Italian fencing, and in particular women's foil, that despite all does not stops its winning streak.

On July 19th in Kazan, Russia, the Italian girls have again occupied the three steps of the world podium with Arianna Errigo, Martina Batini and Valentina Vezzali, after that just a month ago (we talked about here on We the Italians) the first three classified were Elisa Di Francisca, Martina Batini and Valentina Vezzali. But one month ago it was the European championship, this time we are also World champions.

It should be emphasized especially Arianna Errigo's trend, the girl from Lombardy who lives in Frascati, Lazio, world foil champion both this year and in 2013: with a hyperkinetic and always attacking approach, she has managed over the years to refine her style and combine talent with application. The mention of honor, and it could not be otherwise, goes once again to Valentina Vezzali: born in Jesi, Marche, the 40-year old - who was vice champion in 2013 too - has no intention of quitting and will continue (at least) until the Olympics in Rio 2016.

In cycling, the this year's Tour de France seems Vincenzo Nibali's business, and no one else's. The 29 year-old Sicilian was already among the favorites, at the beginning of this edition: since the second day of the Tour he's been wearing the yellow jersey, which he left only for a day, and from then he has gradually gained confidence in its means, also winning three stages, including the very hard and prestigious Izoard, in the Alps.

The bad weather conditions of the early days, combined with bad luck, caused the retirement of the two other favorites, Chris Froome and Alberto Contador, who had to abandon the race due to severe falls: it is likely, however, that this year Nibali was the strongest and most complete between the three.

A few days after the end of the tour, and before the Pyrenees, Vincenzo Nibali has more than four minutes ahead of second-placed Spaniard Alejandro Valverde. If he will arrive in Paris with the yellow jersey, it will be the first Italian victory after 16 years. In 1998 it was the unforgettable Marco Pantani who arrived first on the Champs Elysees, the highest point of his ill-fated career and of his short life.

Italy's victory is also well represented by our male roller hockey national team, winner of the European Championships. The azzurri, led by Massimo Mariotti, won the Old Continent Championship 24 years after our last success: in 1990 we won the gold medal in Lodi, Lombardy.

This one is a really a quite big accomplishment, considering that it happened in Spain, right at home of the national team that has dominated the last 10 years of the sport. The Iberians have won the last 7 European and the last 5 World Championship, with a winning streak of 59 games: the last game they didn't win, ending with a draw, was played in 2004.

Italy was able to draw them: our team took confidence and from there it was a beautiful ride up to the title. One last thing: the title has not arrived after a final Italy vs Spain match, but at the end of a round robin tournament. After beating France, in fact, the azzurri have waited for the result of the last match of the round, the one between Spain and Portugal. In case of victory of the Iberians, the title would have gone to Madrid; but the final score was 6-6 and so we the Italians were able to celebrate.