The Italian dream fades. By just seven hundredths of a second, Italy's Tortu, Patta, Jacobs and Melluzzo arrive fourth in the final of the 4X100 relay at the Paris Olympics.
The defending champions achieved 37"68, a season record. Gold went to Canada with 37"50, silver to South Africa with 37"57 (African record) and bronze to Great Britain (37"61).
On the evening when the United States showed up at the 4x100 without Lyles due to Covid and made the wrong changes that cost them disqualification, Italy failed to take advantage of the chance to confirm themselves as Olympic champions or to get on the podium. Compared to the qualifications, Italy improved (ran in 38"07), but it was not enough for the four fractionists forced to abdicate after the Japanese laurels.
The regret is great because Melluzzo is the third best in reaction time, then Jacobs runs in 8"96 (second fastest), Patta from Oristano (preferred to Desalu) brushes the curve in 9"12 with the first time of the fraction and Tortu closes in 9"20. It was he, coming out on the last straight, who had given the impression of being able to emulate the acceleration of Tokyo, only to then close with the seventh leg, being caught up by South Africa and Great Britain for the final joke and the time of 37"68 which three years ago would have been worth the bronze given that Canada finished third in 37"70.
"We gave it our all, we wanted to confirm ourselves and I think it was within our reach - said Tortu -. In these years we have lived together, fought and sacrificed a lot to dream and try to get this medal. There is a lot of bitterness". Then on his last fraction he cannot hold back the tears: "It is never an easy task, just as it is not easy to run in first, second or third. Then there are individual tests that can stand out or not and mine was more subdued compared to that of my teammates. This makes me feel bad for them, but I gave it my all".
(Online Union)