The Roatan World Championship in outdoor apnea, held in Honduras from August 19 to 27, brought both challenges and successes for the Italian team. The team, led by Coach Michele Tomasi, included Davide Carrera, Vincenzo Ferri, Antonio Mogavero, Simona Auteri, Martina Binda, and Linda Paganelli
Stefano Tovaglieri
Despite securing only one silver medal (Linda Paganelli in free immersion), there were positive achievements. Antonio Mogavero's fourth place in CNF with an Italian record and Stefano Maghelli's three gold medals and a new world record in the Master 50/54 category, clearly stood out.
Challenges included a small COVID-19 outbreak, affecting Italian and other athletes, disrupting their training. Alessia Zecchini and Chiara Obino were absent due to health and personal reasons.
Coach Tomasi praised the team's positive attitude and collaboration, emphasizing the need for versatility in competition. Notable performances included Russian athletes breaking world records, with Alexey Molchanov reclaiming his "king of the depths" title.
In the women's category, Linda Paganelli secured silver in free immersion, and Martina Binda impressed with a fourth-place finish. The championship had clean competitions, especially in free immersion.
The subsequent events, including free immersion, constant weight no fins, and constant weight bi-fins, showcased outstanding performances. Ukraine's Kateryna Sadurska excelled, and Antonio Mogavero narrowly missed the podium.
The championship ended with constant weight with bi-fins, where Alenka Artnik and Alexey Molchanov claimed gold. Stefano Maghelli secured his third gold in the Master 50/54 category.
Despite challenges, Coach Tomasi expressed satisfaction with the athletes and thanked Fipsas for support. The event also sparked discussions about regulations, particularly the use of two fins in the monofin event.
In summary, the Roatan World Championship featured challenges and remarkable achievements, highlighting the resilience and dedication of the Italian freediving team.