Second place does not do justice to Macchi’s performance who, at 14-14, one lunge away from the gold medal, suffered some decisions that did not convince either him or coach Cerioni.
Let’s start with the simplest thing to say: the result. Philip Macchi And silver medal to the Olympic Games Of Paris 2024 in the individual test of foil. Gold goes to Is Cheung who takes it home for the second time in a row. Now everything else. Complicated stuff to reassemble. Three video calls on the 14-14: stuff that probably never happened before.
Three times the feeling that the winning thrust was from the Italian, instead the judges twice decide not to decide and put them back on the platform. The third time, the one that puts an end to the duel, the referee’s right arm is raised, indicating the Hong Kong foil fencer. While the gold of Spots anything goes.
Cerioni goes up on the platform, Macchi despairs
The Parisian public begins to make noise and Stephen Cerioni, former fencer and now coach of the Italian national team, goes up on the platform to repeatedly point out, with his finger, the outline of Spots. To say it bluntly: he is the winner. Filippo, In the meantime, he has just got up after literally collapsing following the call: destroyed, heartbroken, disappointed.
It doesn’t mean that the silver of a debutant who surprised everyone is overshadowed, not at all. But it is yet another chapter of the Italian expedition to Paris that is being fleshed out with a new referee case.
Macchi-Cheung ends 14-15
Cheung it goes to 2-0 quickly, the red light comes on a couple of times, then Filippo He catches his opponent off guard at shoulder height. The 3-1 does not discourage spots, reconstructs the action and continues to pursue the opponent. Long attack in progression, counterattack of Filippo: the Hong Konger ahead 4-3. It’s Filippo’s turn: he reacts and prepares the shot, Pippo takes the initiative and finds the overtaking. 5-4.
Answer from Cheung, new parity. The Hong Konger again: hits the iron and shoots, 6-4. Two points in sequence, one each: the class of Cheung comes out, scores from a standing position. 7-5. Filippo part one, prepares and strikes on the attack of Cheung: 7-6. 8-6 at close range, double blow for 9-7. Spots chases, white light, invalid target, goes back on guard and takes the hit. Cheung flies to +3. It doesn’t give up anything Filippo: 10-8, Cheung lights up white, invalid target.
Philip’s comeback
Parade and response of Filippo: classy move for the -1. The comeback of Spots the first audible chants rise: there is a lot of cheering, the feeling grows that Filippo have gold in foil. L11-0 for Cheung While Filippo tries to escape, they stop and accept the minute break at the end of the first half.
No fear for spots, emotional control: 11-11, thrust built step by step, the Hong Konger could not escape any further. Parry and response, attack invalid for spots, then the VAR confirms the point Cheung: 11-12. Save and response: crystal clear Foo, we return to parity. Again spots, he grants an encore: save and reply seem to be a trademark.
13-12, the blue team is ahead for the first time. Then it unleashes Stephen Cerioni, the coach: more action with the iron, he hits the opponent’s blade and goes to look for the back. He finds it. Spots he takes two lunges of advantage to close. The first attempt turns him off Cheung: 14-13. Filippo change the glove, too sweaty. Invalid target, back on the platform.
The last thrust is repeated three times
Still Cheung: 14-14. At the last thrust: thrilling finale, thrust from both, both exult, attack and counterattack. The video decides but it is a call that lasts a very long time: the judge does not decide. He does not express any verdict. Cerioni he doesn’t agree but it’s not the time to argue. Everything to be redone: white light, invalid target both for Filippo that for Cheung. Second video call: more pilates, judges can’t decide.
Back on the platform: save and response Spots. Third time at the video: this time the arm points to Hong Kong. Cheung Olympic gold medal for the second consecutive time. But the final controversy covers the epilogue: there is anger, so much anger for the feeling that even in men’s foil Italy has been damaged by the decisions – and previous non-decisions – of the judges.
Philip’s great journey in Paris
Quarter-final feat against the Egyptian Mohamed Hamza, then the masterpiece in the semi-final with the victory of the Italian over the number 2 in the world, Nick Itkin. They say that next to the bread, since he was a child, he had the foil: he grew up like that, Philip Macchi said Foo and, except for a fascination with football that at a certain point in his adolescence made him waver (footballer or fencer?) he has always had clear ideas. His first coach was his grandfather Carlo who, in the discipline, remains an institution at a national level.
A second place that is still worth a lot
Italian vice-champion, European gold medalist, enjoys his Olympic debut as best he could. This medal is needed like air for Italy and fencing: the start has not been exciting and, beyond some dubious referee decisions, it must be said that so far expectations have not been met.
That’s why this second place is also worth a lot: Foo, sentimentally linked to Julia Love, daughter of another legend of Italian fencing such as Diana Biancadi, it is necessary for a consecration that came very early. 22 years are a trifle and allow one to enjoy an enlightening potential and perspective. The career of Spots It’s just begun and it’s taking off under very good auspices. It could have been great but someone decided that it shouldn’t be like that.
Source: sport.virgilio.it
