The two Olympians with teary eyes: with them also the Paralympic champions Giacomo Bertagnolli (with the guide Andrea Ravelli) and Giuliana Turra
They go down the steps of the Sanremo stage slowly. A “simple” descent for Francesca Lollobrigida (double gold in speed skating, in the 3000 and 5000 metres) and Lisa Vittozzi (gold in the biathlon pursuit, to which she added a silver in the mixed relay): the Olympic champions don’t have to manage heels, they show up at the Ariston wearing the white jacket from the Milan Cortina Games and walking shoes on their feet. The audience shouts “Brave, brave”, Carlo Conti bows, Francesca laughs at the scene, Pausini (“The medals really weigh eh”) inserts herself between the two blue women, framed in the foreground with shining eyes. “The most beautiful emotion was seeing my son Tommaso in the stands, he was the strength that carried me forward. But I have to say thanks to the Italian public, I’m receiving great love from everyone.”
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It’s Lisa’s moment: “Doing biathlon was a bit by chance, at the beginning I practiced summer sports, then the passion was born and I fell in love with this discipline which requires a lot of physical and mental strength. And then it’s unpredictable, and I like the risk. I’m proud to have brought the first gold to Italy, it was a dream.” With them then greeted on stage the paralympic skier Giacomo Bertagnolli (with the guide Andrea Ravelli) and Giuliana Turra, wheelchair curling champion, who invited everyone (as did Giovanni Malagò, president of the Milano Cortina Foundation, called into question by Conti: “Follow the Paralympics as you have followed the Olympics, with admiration: they are modern heroes who have found their answer, through sport, to win their battles. Thanks Rai”) to follow the Games Paralympics which will be held from 6 to 15 March. At the end, a nice little scene with Vittozzi who didn’t have the courage to go and shake hands with Achille Lauro: Conti does it (“Do you want to meet him? Now I’ll take you…”), to the embarrassment of Lisa herself who before leaving forgets to shake hands and say goodbye to the presenter, but immediately goes back and makes up for the gaffe with a good laugh. Arianna Fontana was also expected on stage, forced to withdraw because she was stuck at home with a 40 degree fever.
