Luca De Tullio led throughout to win the men’s 800 free at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto as world champion Ahmed Jaouadi finished third.
De Tullio was dominant, finishing around eight and a half seconds ahead of Dimitrios Markos who took silver in 7:55.05. It was the Greek swimmer’s second medal of the day after bronze in the 200 free in 1:47.92.
Lisa Angiolini: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia
Jaouadi was third in 7:55.30, around 13 months after going 7:36.88 en-route to the world title in Singapore with the Tunisian’s time in Taranto 18 seconds slower. He spent last season with the University of Florida where he and Tunisian teammate Ahmed Hafnaoui conquered the distance events at the NCAAs.
Hafnaoui isn’t competing at the Mediterranean Games with reports claiming that he wasn’t physically or mentally prepared to compete. It also indicated a growing rift with the Tunisian federation.
Lisa Angiolini won her second medal in as many days as she upgraded to gold in the 200m breaststroke at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto.
The Italian won silver over 100m behind teammate Benedetta Pilato on the opening day in the southern Italian city before returning on Sunday for the longer race.
Angiolini missed out on the final by one place at the European Championships that concluded a week ago in Paris. She made no mistake in Taranto by posting 2:24.27 for gold and her second medal of the meet so far.
Ana Blazevic of Croatia (2:27.63) was second with Francesca Zucca making it an Italian 1-3 in 2:28.46.
European junior champion Doruk Yogurtcuoglu took hold of the men’s 200 breast on the third 50 for victory in 2:10.79 as Christian Mantegazza replicated his 100 silver in 2:11.10 despite the attention of Croatian Filip Mujan who finished just 0.04 adrift in 2:11.14.
Jacopo Barbotti came from third at the final turn to first in the men’s 200 free in 1:47.53. The Italian touched just 0.06 ahead of Ahmet Mete Boylu of Türkiye who stopped the clock in 1:47.59.
Ainhoa Campabadal Amezcua took the women’s 200 free title in 1:57.90.
Anna Ntountounaki completed the fly double when she added the 100 title to her 50 crown in 58.17. Alberto Razzetti won the men’s crown in 52.11.
Apostolos Christou won the men’s 50 back in 24.74 while Costanza Cocconcelli won the women’s in 28.03.
