Sicilian Triumphs at the 2024 Olympics: Gold Medal in Epee and Volleyball

After 16 days of intense competition, the Paris Olympics 2024 ended with Italy winning an impressive 40 medals, placing 9th in the final medals table. Prominent among these victories were 12 gold medals, two of which were won by three extraordinary Sicilian athletes: Rossella Fiamingo, Alberta Santuccio and Myriam Sylla. These champions have shown that Sicily is also a hotbed of world-class sporting talent.

Rossella Fiamingo and Alberta Santuccio: Catanese Excellence in Fencing

The Catanese Rossella Fiamingo and Alberta Santucciotogether with teammates Giulia Rizzi and Mara Navarria, gave Italy one of the most exciting victories of the Olympics. In the spectacular setting of the Grand Palais, the Italian women's epee team faced France in a breathtaking final. After a tight match, which ended in a draw in regulation time, the Azzurri prevailed 30-29 in overtime, thanks to an impeccable performance by Alberta Santuccio in the last challenge against Mallo-Breton.

Rossella Fiamingo, born in Catania, she has confirmed herself as one of the most talented female swordsmen of her generation. At only 33 years of age, she boasts an impressive list of honours: at the Olympic Games she won three medals, one for each metal: in Rio 2016 she won the silver medal, the first individual Olympic success in the history of Italian women's epee, she won the team bronze medal in Tokyo 2020, and in 2024 she won the team gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She became world champion twice in a row, in 2014 in Kazan and 2015 in Moscow, the third female epeeist in the world to win two consecutive world titles. In 2022, she won individual bronze at the World Championships in Cairo.

At her side, Alberta Santuccio, 29 years old and also from Catania, has proven to be one of the best young Italian spadists. She won the team bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, in 2022 she won the team silver medal at the World Championships in Cairo, and reconfirmed the following year in Milan also individually.

Myriam Sylla: Palermo's Ace in World Volleyball

Another gold medal for Sicily came thanks to Myriam Sylla, volleyball player from Palermo and star of the Italian women's national volleyball team. The team, led by Julio Velasco, triumphed in the Olympic final against the United States, the defending champions, with a clear 3-0 victory.

Myriam Sylla, class of 1995, began her career in the youth teams of Grenta and Olginate, immediately showing great talent. Her path took her to Villa Cortese, where she played in Serie A1, before being called up for the Italian national youth teams. From there, her rise has been unstoppable, culminating in the winning of several medals in major international tournaments: in 2015 she got her first call-up to the senior national team and in 2018 she won silver at the world championship, bronze medal at the 2019 European championship and gold medal in the following edition. In 2022, he won the gold medal at the Volleyball Nations League, reconfirming it in 2024.