Italy’s Gymnasts Make History with First Women’s Team Medal in 96 Years at Paris Olympics

After securing the nation’s first Olympic medal in the women’s gymnastics team event in 96 years, Manila Esposito, Alice D’Amato, Angela Andeoli, Giorgia Villa, and Elisa Iorio’s performance on Tuesday night was entirely appropriate.

At the Bercy Arena in Paris, the Italian team scored a total of 165.494 on four different apparatus. With a commanding 171.296, the US team under the direction of Simone Biles emerged victorious, while Brazil secured its first-ever gymnastics team medal with a historic bronze (164.497).

After the competition, D’Amato, who was a member of the squad that placed fourth in Tokyo three years prior, told reporters, “It was wonderful to win this silver medal.”

“To make it happen, we worked as a team. We did have some difficult moments at the end (on floor exercise), but we stayed together as a team. That helped us. We are very happy right now.”

Esposito led the team in vaulting with a score of 14.166, but D’Amato and Iorio’s impressive efforts on the uneven bars were the highlights of Italy’s performance.

Even though Rebeca Andrade, the reigning Olympic vault champion, scored a massive 15.100 on her favorite discipline on the penultimate rotation, the 17-year-old Esposito struggled on the floor, scoring just 12.666, but the team’s total was still enough to stave off Brazil.

Although it never appeared that any other team would challenge the US for the gold medal, Italy, who were crowned European team champions earlier this year, is pleased with their silver medal, which meets their pre-competition expectations after qualifying in second place.

In reference to the additional pressure that accompanies a great qualifying showing, D’Amato remarked, “(Being) in second was a good thing, but also not a good thing.”

“But we tried to stay concentrated, apparatus after apparatus. We tried not to think too much about it. In the end, we (managed) to realize our dream (of winning a medal).”

Italy won eleven medals at the Games, including the silver in the cycling road race, fencing, shooting, and swimming. Brazil achieved a historic milestone by winning the first-ever women’s team medal for their nation.

“Twenty years ago, in Athens, Brazil made it to the Olympic team final for the first time in history. Twenty years later, we’re here with our first-ever Olympic team medal,” Jade Barbosa stated.

Read Also: Historic Victory: U.S. Men Secure First Olympic Gymnastics Team Medal in 16 Years

It takes a lot of effort. However, this generation has the ability to make that happen. Today, everything went well for us, which is incredible.

“Everyone out here today only sees one day of our work and history. But only God sees everything that we’ve done, in and out of the gym, to be here.”

The women’s individual events start on Saturday with the vault final, and attention now shifts to the women’s all-around final, which happens on Thursday.

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With more than two years of expertise in news and analysis, Eileen Stewart is a seasoned reporter. Eileen is a respected voice in this field, well-known for her sharp reporting and insightful analysis. Her writing covers a wide range of subjects, from politics to culture and more.