There is no better way to celebrate your birthday. Especially if you are the favorite of a race thrown to the wind four years earlier, and especially if the candles you blow out today are already 28. It risked being the last chance for the canoeist Daniele Molmenti, multi-decorated champion of the K1 slalom specialty, but still dry at the Olympics, and did not go wrong. Four years ago in Beijing he had finished tenth in a race thrown into the winds, but this time the 2012 world champion and five-times European champion did not fail: thanks to a simply sensational final heat he clearly took first place, bringing Italy the third gold medal and the ninth overall of this edition. The last blue triumph in this specialty dates back to Barcelona '92 and was signed by Pierpaolo Ferrazzi, Molmenti's current coach (later also bronze in Sydney 2000).
However, the Pordenone's exploit remained an isolated episode in a day, the fifth of these Games, which for Italy was marked more by shadows than lights. Swimming has continued its bad moment, with Magnini continuing undeterred in his battle against the whole world (the Pesaro also removed his Twitter account after the recent controversy: "To all of you who criticize, I wish you to have children who will be fulfilled in life, since you have not been fulfilled. Now I leave the world of Twitter because it is full of bad people. Hello to all great fans, even to those who criticize us in a constructive and polite way. Those yes, I don't greet imbeciles“): it is still not clear where he wants to go, but in the meantime the fact is that he and his teammates in the pool are not getting anywhere. The day was only partially saved by the seventh place in the final of the women's 4×200m relay, led by a proud Federica Pellegrini (who, unlike her boyfriend, speaks less and still tries to say something in the pool).
After the satisfactions of the first days, especially thanks to the women's foil (which tomorrow returns to the platform for the team event, with a gold medal that it's hard to think of not winning), the contribution of fencing is also dying out more and more: the Italian chances were reduced today, but it was reasonable to expect at least one podium from the sword world champion Paolo Pizzo. Also without glory are the sabers Vecchi and Marzocca. Bad news also from archery, judo, men's gymnastics, tennis (out of the Schiavone-Pennetta double) and water polo, with Setterosa he suffered the second defeat in two games (7-4 by Russia) and now seriously risks early elimination.
Instead, boxing and volleyball are saved. Russo and Cammarelle, already medalists in Beijing, easily passed the first round of their respective weight categories: for the Campanian, the pass even came due to a forfeit from his opponent, while the Lombard calmly tamed the Ecuadorian Ytalo Perea Castillo. For volleyball, the women's national team took to the field, bringing home their second victory in two games with an easy 3-0 victory over Great Britain.
Honorable the blue appearance in the time trial cycling race, one of the most awaited of the day with the historic gold of the landlord Bradley Wiggins (ahead of the German Tony Martin and the other Briton Chris Froome): Bettini's men were not on the podium, but Pinotti came very close with a brilliant fifth place.
