Gregorio Paltrinieri and Gabriele Detti have collected the first two medals that Italy has ever won in the men’s 1500 freestyle at an Olympic Games. Paltrinieri won the event in a time of 14:34.57 while Detti finished in third with a time of 14:40.86.
Although it is a first for the nation it was definitely not a surprise that the two men were able to accomplish the feat. Paltrinieri and Detti came into the Games with world’s first and third fastest times.
Paltrinieri was the favourite after winning the event 2015 World Championships in Kazan and posting the second fastest time ever done in the event at the European Championships in May.
Being the favourite doesn’t mean it was easy, “It’s amazing. I have dreamed of this medal ever since I was a child,” said Paltrinieri. “I mean a gold medal, it was more difficult than I expected because it’s an Olympic final. It was tough but I’m very excited. The gold medal is amazing.”
Detti, who won the bronze in the 400 freestyle earlier in the Games, was a little more of a long shot for a medal. He had posted a 14:46.48 in April, but as he showed tonight he was going to have to be a lot faster than that to stand on the podium in Rio.
Both men have made some impressive improvements in the last two years. Paltrinieri has dropped his lifetime best from a 14:45.37 to a 14:34.04 while Detti has gone from a 14:58.78 to a 14:40.86.
After not winning a medal in the pool in 2012 Italy has now earned one gold and two bronze in Rio.
Some have the split for the race?