Like Coppi and Bartali

VINGEGAARD An episode similar to the one immortalized by the famous photograph of the exchange of water bottles between Coppi and Bartali, 70 years ago, took place in the Tour de France. Pogacar fell downhill, and the yellow jersey Vingegaard, instead of taking advantage of it, didn't attack him: "Hold your hand", Pogacar gets up, and the challenge continues. It was the victory of fair play, even today, in which certain moral impulses seem crushed by interests. SOLIDARY

RUSSEL Bill Russel, the star basketball player who won 11 titles in 13 seasons, between 1957 and 1969, has died. He was a pillar of the Boston Celtics and the first black coach in US history. In 2011, President Barak Obama awarded him the Medal of Freedom, the highest honor for his efforts in defending the civil rights of African-American citizens. Furthermore, Bill is present in the hall fame of basketball both as a player and as a coach. PLURIDECORATED

VIVIANI Elia Viviani, in Monaco, has accomplished a crazy feat. After 5 hours of the road race, in which he finished seventh, he took to the track, and conquered the European gold medal in the elimination round. He had already obtained the most coveted Olympic gold in 2016. The Veronese champion has shown exceptional recovery skills, but without an extraordinary temperament, he would never have been able to achieve the performance. INEXHAUSTIBLE

MADONNA DEL PONTE In Porretta Terme, 2 days of challenges and meetings were held, promoted by the blue legends, to celebrate the official status of the "Virgin of the Bridge", who became the patroness of Italian basketball players. It was July 29, 1956 when the basketball player's shrine was consecrated inside the sanctuary. There are jerseys like the one worn by Kobe Bryant, who as a child lived a few kilometers from the sanctuary, when his father played in Pistoia. SACRED

SEGHI One hundred and two years of life: those of the ski champion Celina Seghi, born in Abetone (Pistoia) on March 6, 1920. In 1934, at just 14 years old, she conquered the first of 37 medals at the championships Italians. Her curious first name is due to her mother's faith. Reading a book about Thérèse of Lisieux, she discovered that the saint's sister was called Celina, a cheerful and bubbly type, just like her, one day, she would later become her little girl. DEVOTED

THE ROMANCHUK The 2 Ukrainian sportsmen Romanchuk and Bekh, husband and wife separated by the war and fleeing their country, are European champions in swimming and athletics. Mykhailo beat Gregorio Paltrinieri in the 1,500m freestyle, while Maryna entered the 15m triple jump club. It is a victory of great human value, above all because they were forced to prepare remotely: he in Magdeburg, and she in Brescia. SEPARATE

FERRIERI Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi is the first woman to referee men's matches in Serie A. She is a thirty-one year old from Livorno, specialized in sociology, researcher in a private study centre. Last October, you made your debut in Serie B in Cittadella-Spal. Out of a total of 30,577 members of the Italian referees' association, in 2022, there are already 1,834 women, having grown by almost 200 after 2018. A movement, therefore, in promising expansion. PIONEER


Carlo Nesti
NP October 2022