An unexpected epilogue, the tears and disappointment of Ambra Sabatini who fell a few meters from the finish line, when the second Paralympic gold seemed there. But the feeling is that Ambra will know how to make up for it, she will know how to get back up as she has always done in her life. Porto Ercole held her breath until the end, then the cold in all of Piazza Roma, where an entire town watched the final of the 100 meters T63 at the Paris Paralympics last night, until the sensational fall.
“I’m in shock, I didn’t understand what happened – Ambra said after the race -. I was close to the finish line, I was touching it. In the warm-up I had a problem, the valve of the prosthesis wasn’t working, we fixed it with silicone. I was fired up and I wanted to fight. Martina was great, I’m very happy that she succeeded in the feat. I hurt Monica and I’m sorry. I will face this too, thanks to those who followed me, to my country and the coach, I wanted to give my parents a joy. It was a difficult year, I gave it my all, with the rib and with the injury. I have many opportunities ahead, I will get back on track immediately, the journey to Los Angeles begins. I have to get over the bitterness, but I’m happy for Martina. I will take some time to metabolize and I will move on”.
Until the final consolation of parents Ambrogio and Lorenzina towards their daughter Ambra shortly after the race. To think that Ambra’s day had opened with the morning semifinals, which had decreed a first verdict: the three “Charlie’s Angels” of Italian Paralympic athletics – Ambra Sabatini, Martina Caironi and Monica Contraffatto – all qualified for the final, just like three years ago in Tokyo, when the tricolor then covered all the positions on the podium.
Also great participation in the Paralympics in Judo, in the 90 kilo J1 men’s category, for Valerio Romano Teodori from Porto Ercole-Orbetella, who in the round of 16 elimination match beat the Mongolian Batkhuyang Battugs by disqualification, then losing in the quarterfinals against the Turkish Yasin Cimciler. In the repechage A final he then lost against the Uzbek Turgun Abdiev, with the definitive elimination from the race for a medal. But the beautiful Paralympic experience, that one, no one will take away from him. Present in Porto Ercole was his father Edoardo Teodori. “I spoke on the phone with Valerio – he said – and he thanks the entire population for the affection expressed. He is very happy at his first Paralympic. We thank everyone. In the pre-race I was very tense”.
Andrea Capitani
2024-09-08 05:59:19