Milan, June 19 (LaPresse) – Italy has claimed the gold medal in men's team foil at the European Championships in Genoa. The Italian team—composed of Guillaume Bianchi, Alessio Foconi, Filippo Macchi, and Tommaso Marini—defeated France in a thrilling final, 45-43.
The semifinal against the Russians (AIN) was equally intense and nerve-wracking: Italy was down by as many as eight points but never gave up. In the final rotation of bouts, Macchi, then Marini, and finally Bianchi led a remarkable comeback to win 45-40. With the same determination and heart, the team led by head coach Simone Vanni, supported on the bench by coach Marco Vannini, fought their way through the final and captured gold against France. The 45-43 result sparked a roar from the Genoa arena and marked the third time in this European Championship that the Italian national anthem echoed through the venue.