The Italian Team reaches 13! Castaldo, Lodo, Montrone and Vicino win bronze in Men's Four

And Italy reaches 13! Rowing once again provides Italy with another medal at Rio 2016, this time with the Men's Four made up of Matteo Castaldo, Matteo Lodo, Domenico Montrone and Giuseppe Vicino. The Italian quartet fight back in the final few metres, denying South Africa a medal, and earning (in 6:03.85) the final place on a podium completed by Great Britain (5:58.61) and Australia (6:00:44).

Italy's Olympic rowing regatta finishes with this amazing bronze medal. After 12 years the coxless four achieves Olympic success which is added to the bronze medal won yesterday by the coxless pair of Giovanni Abagnale and Marco Di Costanzo. Domenico Montrone, Matteo Castaldo, Matteo Lodo, Giuseppe Vicino had the task of confirming Italy at the top in the world after being crowned champions at the worlds last year in Aiguebelette. The final on the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas went to the form books with the favourites, Britain leading from the first strokes pursued by Australia, which had already shown in the preliminary rounds to be the biggest threat to the British team. The Italian boat, after a good start, settled into fourth position, trying to increase speed without losing its composure, making sure to keep in touch with the medal positions.

The race steadily intensified with the top four positions unchanged until the last part of the race, when the four Italian rowers launched a thrilling finish (fastest in the last 500 metres with 2 "19 ahead of the British "giants") which literally left South Africa stunned guaranteeing the Italians a second splendid bronze medal.

Bronze for the men's coxless pair of Di Costanzo and Abagnale

The men's coxless pair provides rowing with its first Olympic medal of Rio 2016. Marco Di Costanzo and Giovanni Abagnale (photo Ferraro/GMT) have won the bronze medal. The Italian boat rowed a model race. Just behind New Zealand from the start, the two Italian athletes were able to hang on to 1500m. At the finish it was the pair from South Africa that moved passed them to claim second place.
Finishing order: 1. New Zealand (Hamish Bond, Eric Murray) 6.59.71, 2. South Africa (Lawrence Brittain, Shaun Keeling) 7.02.51, 3. Italy (Giovanni Abagnale, Marco Di Costanzo) 7.04.52, 4. Great Britain (Alan Sinclair, Innes Stewart) 07.07.99, 5. France (Germain Chardin, Dorian Mortelette) 7.09.91, 6. Australia (Alexander Lloyd, Spencer Turrin) 7.11.60.

Di Francisca silver, her third Olympic medal. Italy reaches 11

Elisa Di Francisca has failed to make it two in a row. After individual foil gold, in addition to gold in the team event, in London 2012, the Italian athlete was not able to overcome the Russian Inna Deriglazova but still takes home a prestigious silver medal. In the final, after the Italian gained an early advantage, it was the Russian who slowly overtook the Italian with six points in a row, bringing the score to 7-3 in her favour. Elisa (photo Ferraro-Mezzelani/GMT) mounted a comeback using all her skills to claw back 3 points. Deriglazova, however, did not give up and eventually prevailed 12-11.
However, from the very first contest Elisa had proved her superiority. A 15-8 win against Lin (Hong Kong) to kick things off, followed by an authoritative 15-6 victory against Poland's Lyczbinska and then the stern challenge from the Chinese Liu (15-10) opened up the doors to the semi-final, where she overcame Tunisia's Boubakri (12-9).
Her Olympic silver provides Italy with its eleventh medal of the 31st edition of the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Marco Innocenti silver in the double trap. Italy's tenth medal

Marco Innocenti has won the silver medal in the double trap at Rio 2016. The Italian trap shooter (photo Ferraro/GMT) was beaten in a final shoot-off (26-24) by Fehaid Alddehani, competing under the Olympic flag (born in Kuwait). Bronze goes to Britain's Scott, who defeated compatriot Kneale in the bronze medal match. Innocenti had ended the preliminary round in fifth place (136). It represents Italy's tenth medal in Rio, the second in trap shooting after the silver won by Pellielo in the trap.

Well done all the same, Federica: Pellegrini fourth in the 200 m freestyle

Just a round of applause. A huge one, even without the podium. That fades away by 26 hundredths of a second after an amazing race and incredible times: it should have been the crowning moment for a champion who has been able to stop time. 12 years and three Olympics have gone by starting with silver in Athens 2004, but Federica, our nation's favourite, is still there. Among the top sprinters. Tonight Pellegrini came fourth in the 200 m freestyle final at Rio 2016 in a time of 1:55:18. The Italian flag bearer bowed down to the American Ledecky, gold in 1.53.73, Sjostrom (1:54:08) and McKeon (1.54.92) but not with pride. She wanted a place on the podium because she is a perfectionist and she deserved it for what she has been able to give to Italian sport throughout her magnificent career. It was within touching distance, but it just slipped away.
The 2008 Beijing Olympic champion remains the youngest individual Italian medal winner, as well as holding the World and European 200 m freestyle record. Federica, as a result of winning silver at the World Championships in Kazan in 2015, also become the first swimmer in history to step onto the podium at six consecutive World Championships. At World level she has collected 4 golds, 4 silvers and one bronze, while adding 6 golds, one silver and four bronzes at the Europeans to her trophy cabinet. Finally, in the short-course, her successes include World Championship silver and 3 bronzes, and 7 golds, 2 silvers and 5 bronzes at the Europeans. Federica has won over 100 Italian championships, has been world record holder 11 times, still holds the 200 m freestyle world record, set in Rome on 29 July 2009 (1:52.98) and the European 400 m freestyle record (3:59.15).
A truly outstanding list of successes, a deserved tribute to a champion who has written history, and conquered the world, from the top. A champion who obtained the copyright for the 200 m freestyle, making it her very own trademark. She floated over the transience and difficulties, cutting through the water with elegant power. Sinuous strokes, unmistakable style, an innate ability to be at one with water. Natural talent, the most dazzling demonstration of her pure class. With class, style and sacrifice, she has been able to develop her talent, working on it, with humility, swimming towards infinity. Infinity is a synonym for glory. Even without tonight's high note, as part of her games as flag bearer. Thank you all the same, Federica.

Malagò at the inauguration of the children's centre in the Rocinha favela

A project aimed at developing a sense of citizenship and respect for human rights for 500 children from the favelas and their families. Rocinha and Cidade De Deus are dressed in Italy's red, white and green thanks to the initiative of ActionAid in partnership with CONI, called upon to create an educational and social path that ensures cultural and economic growth to fight poverty. President Malagò has attended today's opening of the renovated school of Rocinha's children's day centre, together with the Secretary General of ActionAid, Marco De Ponte.
The building's redevelopment led to the creation of a games room, a toy library with video equipment, a community garden, a number of showers alongside sanitation of the nursery premises and the installation of two drinking water fountains and eight fans. At the same time, the playing field of the Alphonsus Guimaraens school in Cidade De Deus was also redeveloped, benefiting 80 children and their families. The redevelopment has promoted a positive path that has led to improved social relations in the favela. The projects have been carried out thanks to contributions from some of CONI's partners, such as DHL, EA7, UnipolSai and Kinder+Sport.
Malagò stressed the importance of the initiative. "I am very happy, we care a great deal about this project. We have discovered a situation that must also make us reflect on what we experience on a daily basis in our own country. There is a philosophy in this bridgehead of lawfulness that is set against prosperity and helps to promote a less glossy image of sport, which aims to bring our values to where society is struggling to establish itself. We chose to work with such a credible partner as ActionAid, for its history, for its generous practices and for its internationalisation. We have launched similar initiatives in problem areas of Italy. In Brazil it has a special worth due to the significance it is able to convey. I'm proud of it".

Misfortune for Mangiacapre, fractured cheekbone. Italian athlete forced to return to Italy

An unexpected blow for the Italian Team: Italy's quest in Rio loses one of its key players through injury. The boxer Vincenzo Mangiacapre, victorious today in the round of 32 in the men's welter class (69kg) against Mexican Romero, suffered a compound fracture of the cheekbone and is forced to return to Italy. The Italian team affectionately gather around the bronze medal winner from London 2012 and wish him a speedy recovery.

Campriani gold with Olympic record in 10 mt air rifle. It is his third medal at the Games

Niccolò Campriani won the gold in 10 metres air rifle at the Games Rio 2016. It is the third Olympic medal for the champion of the shooting, the third gold and eighth for Team Italy at the 31st edition of the Summer Games. Campriani closed in the lead with an Olympic record during the qualification phase (630.2), ahead of the Russian Maslennkov and the Croatian Gorsa, with six impressive series. In the final, he confirmed the best Olympic score with 206.1 ahead of the Ukrainian Kulisch (204.6) exceeded in the last series of shots. In third place came the Russian Maslennkov (184.2).
The story was already written in London, when he won the first ever Italian gold in 50 metres air rifle 3 positions, crushing the competition with his brilliant and discreet class. Invincible smile and surgical strikes, Niccolò has built his career around applause with painstaking care, without neglecting the training aspect. Engineer and champion, the perfect athlete profile that conquers the world, projecting the best image of the Italian excellence

Pellielo an ageless champion: silver in the men's trap. Italy on 9 medals

Giovanni Pellielo has won the silver medal in the men's trap at the Rio Games 2016. The Italian trap shooting champion was only beaten by the Croatian Glasnovic (15-14 in the final shoot off). Bronze to Britain's Ling, while Massimo Fabbrizi, silver in London 2012, ended the competition in sixth place. Pellielo has now got four Olympic medals, after silvers won in Athens and Beijing and bronze in Sydney.
It is yet another podium finish for a timeless champion, who has passed through generations of star players while still remaining among the world's best. An ageless talent, the longest serving member of the entire Italian team, Pellielo boasts a glittering trophy cabinet - made up of 10 world titles and 12 Europeans - encapsulating professionalism that goes beyond competition and embraces the human qualities of a true champion. This is the ninth medal for Italy at the 31st edition of the Summer Olympics.

Daniele Garozzo is the king of the foil, Olympic gold in Rio 2016

Gold!!! Daniele Garozzo ends in the best way his Olympic participation, winning the Olympic medal of the most precious metal in the final of the foil held against the US athlete Massialas 15-11.