Italian women win first volleyball Olympic gold

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 11 - Italy's women's volleyball team won a historic first Olympic gold medal in Paris on Sunday, beating reigning champions USA in three sets and taking the Italian gold tally at the Games to 12.
    Italy won 25-18, 25-10 and 25-17.
    It was another dominant performance from the Azzurre, who dropped just one set set throughout their Paris matches, led by longtime standout Paola Egonu, who top scored in the final with 22 points.
    It is Italy's 40th medal, the same tally as Tokyo 2020 three years ago where the gold tally was 10.
    After the match Egonu said she was "super proud".
    Veneto born Italo-Nigerian Egonu, 25, played down media hype about her supposed rivalry with 21-year-old Iceland-born and Russian heritage Ekaterina Antropova , who also starred in the win after finally getting Italian citizenship a year ago.
    "I can only say one thing: I am super proud. And happy for these women," Egonu said.
    "The final embrace with Antropova after so many words about our rivalry? We are a team, and with the gold we close a fantastic year".
    Meanwhile social media erupted with the tag "multi-ethnic Italy wins" going viral, a reference to rightwing League MEP General Roberto Vannacci's saying in a controversial bestseller that Egonu's "somatic features do not represent Italian-ness", a remark for which he has been cleared of defaming her.
    The Italian sporting and political world joined in feting the long-awaited win by the multiple world and European champs.
    Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on social media that "our Italian volleyball players, playing a flawless game, have made us dream again with a historic victory that gives Italy its twelfth gold.
    "Extraordinary! #italvolleyball".
    Her ally, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani was also jubilant, saying on X: "Gold makes history!!! The volleyball Azzurre on the highest Olympic podium place for the first time!!! Gold number 12 and Tokyo record of 40 medals equalled.
    "Thanks to all our athletes, Forza Italia (Come On Italy)!!!," said the centre right post Berlusconi Forza Italia party leader.
    Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) President Giovanni Malagò said Italy's 12th gold "weighs an awful lot.
    "This one is heavy, I told the girls, we have won many individual ones, but this one is a team one," Italian sports supremo told Rai Sport.
    "We just have to thank the girls. And how they played!" Argentine born coach Julio Velasco was hoisted aloft by the players after they won.
    The 72-year-old fell short with the men's 'team of the century' at Atlanta in 1996.
    Fans joyously waved tricolour flags as the arena rocked to the Ricchi E Poveri hit Sarà Perché Ti Amo and its famous chorus Vola Vola.
    A Brescia area village, Roncadelle, now boasts three Paris Olympic gold medals after women's volleyball captain Anna Danesi followed judoka Alice Bellandi and canoist Giovanni De Gennaro onto the top of the podium in the French capital.
    Roncadelle Mayor Roberto Groppelli told ANSA: "I was at a loss for words after the first two golds, let alone the third. We are proud of Anna, Giovanni and Alice: it is a dream come true and I think we can say that Roncadelle enters in the history of these Olympics".
    He added: "We will certainly try to organise a nice party." The Lombardy village has a population of under 10,000. (ANSA).