Swimming, 2 Italian medals at the Mondialini. And the Russians at the World Cup

Two medals and two regrets for Italy at the Junior World Championships in Netanya (Isr) which started yesterday. Double podium in the 400m freestyle: for the trifle of 17 cents, Alessandro Ragaini, born in 2006, from the Marches of Castelplanio, trained by Andrea Cavalletti and already European silver, touches behind and regrets in the presence of the Bulgarian Petrov Mitsin jrs world record holder in 3 ’44”31. The blue’s performance is remarkable, indeed it is the 11th Italian time trial ever: 3’46”66, with an improvement from the 3’48”42 swum at the European Championships in Belgrade. Bronze for Aniene’s Filippo Bertoni from Viterbo in 3’48”73 (he had a best time of 3’50”45): a year ago Chritsian Minotti’s 2006 student had been bronze in the 200m freestyle, on the podium with David Popovici.

More races

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In the semifinals of the women’s 50 breaststroke, Irene Mati is promoted with the sixth time, Chiara Della Corte is out by 3 cents. In the semifinals of the 100m backstroke, both Christian Bacico (with the fourth fastest time together with the American Diehl and a personal improvement of 10 cents to overtake Matteo Restivo in 11th Italian place ever) and Riccardo Del Signore, eighth in 55” pass to the final. 17 (personal 55”08). Christian Mantegazza is also eighth in the semifinals of the 100m breaststroke. Giada Gorlier is also eighth and reaches the final in the 100m backstroke in 1’01″69 (the Turinese has a personal best of 1’01″36). The gall comes from the fast men’s relay, which from European gold remains the best national team of the old continent but touches fourth and mocks Canada by 15 cents, on the podium with the USA with Williamson’s jrs world record (47″78) and with Southam’s Australia (48”87). Same podium and same position for Italy also in the 4×200 freestyle: the difference is above all the first and last fraction. For Leah Hayes (the girl with alopecia), second gold in a session – 400m medley and 4x200m – and test passed in the relay from an Olympic point of view. The other bald Bertoni also took the podium.

Breakthrough

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Meanwhile, a unanimous decision by the Bureau of World Aquatics, the international swimming federation, will allow aquatic athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports to participate in future international competitions on a neutral and individual basis. Athletes will have to comply with strict criteria established by Aquatics Integrity starting with robust anti-doping measures, in addition of course to the declaration of not wanting to support the war and taking into account that they will not be able to use anthems and flags. Criteria developed by a specific task force set up by the Bureau on 5 April: after in-depth consultations, 67% said yes to the participation of Russians and Belarusians, with only one athlete per race coming from the two countries. “The World Aquatics Bureau recognizes the commitment and talent of athletes, regardless of their nationality – says world president Husain Al Musallam -. Despite the challenges we face on the international scene, we recognize our responsibility to promote a competitive, fair and inclusive environment for every swimmer. It is a rigorous and fair approach that we have arrived at”.