Fair play at its highest level. It is a gesture of extraordinary sportsmanship that featured Ferrara's Emilia Rossatti in the final of the Italian Under 23 fencing championships in Vercelli.

In the final for the tricolor women's epee title, the Ferrara Bernardi Academy's holder chose not to take advantage of her opponent Gaia Traditi's injury, leading 12-9 at the time of a painful sprain to her right ankle, giving up the assault in the 17 seconds remaining to be contested and effectively handing her the gold medal. And a safe place at the next European Championships in her category, scheduled to be held in Budapest in May.

Seventeen seconds seems little, but in fencing it is more than enough to make up a three-snap disadvantage, especially against an opponent who cannot charge on her right foot. And at that point comes the gesture worthy of De Coubertin: the referee calls "ready, to you," but Rossatti has already agreed with her teacher Riccardo Schiavina not to attack, backs off, gets distance from her opponent and lets time run out, sealing Traditi's victory.

As those 17 seconds full of humanity and values tick by, the Vercelli audience gives a standing ovation to Ferrara-based Rossatti and her gesture until referee Francesca Calabrò's halt at the expiration of the competition time. Gaia and Emilia tearfully embrace each other on par with their respective masters.

On the podium, the two girls smile and hug each other again. "I don't know how to thank her, friendship is worth more than a victory," Traditi admits, pointing to her opponent and friend from Ferrara.