Italy Dominates Rowing at Med Games

Italy beat France by just one gold medal in the Mediterranean Games rowing events held at Lake Tunis on September 13 and 14.

Although France topped the overall games medal table in front of Italy the Italians took the rowing medal table by only one gold medal ahead of their strongest opponent.

The two nations battled it out consistently in all six boat classes in which 9 other nations competed. The races were disputed over a 1000 metre course.

The women’s single sculls was won by young French Olympian Sophie Balmary who finished over five seconds ahead of Paraskevi Dimitriadi of Greece and Erika Spinello of Italy.

Franco Berra also of Italy and world bronze medallist in the men’s quad in Lucerne last August as well as men’s eight Olympian took the men’s single sculls in front of Egyptian Ali Ibrahim and French Olympian Frederic Kowal.

The men’s double sculls was dominated by Olympic gold medallist Luka Spik and his new partner Davor Mizerit of Slovenia. Italy came second with Olympic gold medallists Rossano Galtarossa and Simone Raineri finishing just .29 seconds behind the Slovenian duo. Third place went to Alexandros Savvatis and Ioannis Karampas of Greece who finished just ahead of French Olympians Hardy and Vieilledent.

Little surprise came in the lightweight men’s single sculls, as Italy and France battled it out ending up with a gold for Italian Elia Luini and silver for Frédéric Dufour of France. Blaz Kajdiz of Slovenia took the bronze medal at 4.82 seconds behind the winner.

Italy and France were again in for gold and silver in the lightweight men’s double sculls, where Italy’s Luca Mondcada and Daniele Gilardoni finished 2.31 seconds ahead of Worlds bronze medallist Thibaud Chapelle and Fabrice Moreau. Spanish Olympians Ruben Alvarez and Juan Zunzunegqui took bronze by more than five seconds ahead of Egypt and Turkey.

France managed to take gold ahead of Italy this time in the lightweight women’s double sculls. Adeline Gouelle and Solene Hamon finished their final 1.07 seconds ahead of Samantha Molina and Martina Orzan. Laura Clavijo and Berta Duran of Spain finished in third position.

Rowing was one of the 27 sporting events to be held at the games this year.

The 14th Mediterranean Games ran from September 2-15. The next edition will be take place in 2005 in Alméria, Spain.