Christian Volpi seventh at the Paralympics in the KL2 200m canoe

The first time is never forgotten: Christian Volpi è seventh in the final of the KL2 200m canoe at his first participation in the Paralympic Games but the emotion at the end of the race is great, almost as if he had a medal around his neck. 

This time the metal did not arrive, but the conquest of a historic final for the youngest of the Italian canoe team is already a great result. The emotion and a start that was perhaps too fast paid the price, so much so that from halfway through the race the Italian saw his opponents pass in front of him, including the trio on the podium: the Australian McGrath gold, the British Phillipson silver and the Ukrainian Syniuk bronze.

The 25-year-old from Livorno had opened the penultimate day of the Paris Paralympics in the best possible way and his exultation after the semi-final shows all his satisfaction for the goal achieved. A very close race, with the Italian who is third in the semi-final, finishing in 44.31, and went through to the final round with Austrian Mendy Swoboda and Brazilian Rufino de Paulo. The race was marked by a first false start by Brazilian Rufino.