Italy closes the London Olympics equaling the golds from Beijing 2008, eight, and improving the overall tally by one medal, from 27 to 28. Positive result, slightly above the expectations that spoke of 25-26, and close to the threshold of great success, those 30 medals considered almost unattainable on the eve but which at this point, considering some "wooden" medals that still cry out for revenge (see Cagnotto and Ferrari), were really within reach. Italy thus finishes eighth in the final medal table, just behind France and firmly in the top ten ahead of surprising Hungary and very disappointing Australia.
Out of the top ten Japan, Holland and Ukraine, while nations like Spain and Brazil are even beyond twentieth place, behind even Iran and Jamaica. The ranking is won by the United States, with a clear advantage over China both in terms of gold medals and total medals. Indeed, the Asian giant was almost undermined by the highly galvanized hosts of Great Britain, authors of a historic exploit with 65 medals including 29 gold, which allowed His Majesty's athletes to leave none other than Russia off the podium.
No gold arrived on the last day but still five medals: on the first day alone, Saturday 28 July, so many had been won, with two golds, two silvers and a bronze. Italy therefore ends as it had begun, even if this time the most valuable color was missing and 2 silvers and 3 bronzes arrived.
The two second places are those of the boxer Robert Cammarelle in the super heavyweight category, who loses in the final to the British Joshua only for the verdict of the jury, considered by many to be scandalous but in reality simply questionable, and the Settebello, author of a triumphant ride in this water polo tournament, first eliminating the tri-Olympic champions in charge Hungary and then the very favorite Serbia, only to then surrender in the final to ex coach Rudic's Croatia 8-6.
It's a real shame, but it's still a nice podium for a sport that has always given a lot to the Italian Olympic expeditions, and this time it also had the task of "saving" the budget of team sports, who failed a bit between non-qualifiers and early eliminations here in London, especially in the women's field.
Another team medal was him splendid bronze (with fewer regrets than water polo) of the men's national volleyball team, which on the eve was not too accredited but instead by surprisingly beating the reigning champions of the United States in the quarter-finals, it then went to fight for the podium (dedicated entirely to Vigor Bovolenta, a former blue who died a few months ago) with Bulgaria. A nice bronze, after the fourth place in Beijing, which seals the fifth consecutive semifinal won by volleyball at the Games.
Another bronze of the day, and this one here is historical, is that of Marco Aurelio Fontana in the mountain bike. The cyclist from Lombardy, author of a heroic and even a little comical finish to the race after the saddle broke which forced him to pedal always raised, won the first men's medal in the history of Italian mountain biking at the Olympics, after the double gold by Paola Pezzo in '96 and in 2000.
Finally, the extraordinary exercise of the blue butterflies of rhythmic gymnastics: Russia was unreachable, second place was within reach if there hadn't been a small but decisive error with the ribbon, but the bronze conquered by Elisa Blanchi, Elisa Santoni, Romina Laurito, Anzhelika Savrayuk, Marta Pagnini and Andreea Stefanescu however, it remains one of the most beautiful medals won in these two weeks. A real work of art, built over the years with hard work and a team spirit that is difficult to find in other sports. A real feast for the eyes and a podium that nonetheless arrives after the bitter disappointment in Beijing.
