Unknown Italian steals show
NZPA-AAP Madrid An unknown Italian youngster stole the show from the stars of international swimming as the world swimming championships came to an end in Madrid on Saturday evening. Stefano Battistelli, at 16 the youngest male finalist at the titles, captured the imagination of the large crowd by finishing second in the 800 m freestyle final.
Battistelli recorded a personal best time of 15min 14.80 s to win the silver behind West Germany’s Reiner Henkel (15:05.315). This year’s European junior champion, Battistelli cut the American, Dan Jorgenson (15:16.235), out of second place.
The son of a Rome painter, Battistelli’s family wept openly in the stands as their teen-age son came down from the clouds.
“It’s something great to have won the silver medal,” he said in broken English. “I never thought I could do such a good time.”
A school student, Battistelli has been swimming since the age of five. He received a tumultuous round of applause after being presented with his medal.
West Germany (3:42.265) was second with Russia (3:42.635) third. The only world record to fall on the last night of finals went to Rumania’s Tamara Costache in the 50m freestyle. Costache’s time was 25.285, inside the 25.31 s she set in Sofia in July.
East Germany was the top gold and medal winning nation. Its total was 31 medals, broken down to 14 gold, 13 silver and four bronze. The United States won eight gold, eight silver and 13 bronze (29), to finish second.
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Press, 25 August 1986, Page 38
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251Unknown Italian steals show Press, 25 August 1986, Page 38
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