Positive experience
" We close the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games with three medals, one gold and two silvers. We are absolutely satisfied with this result, coming at the end of extremely high-level competitions ." This was how the Secretary General of the Italian Shooting Union, Remo Tagliacozzo, commented on the Italian team's recent experience at the Taranto Mediterranean Games. Italy finished third in the Shooting medal table behind Turkey and Serbia, a very respectable result. I want to thank the Taranto 2026 organizers, the International Committee, the institutions, and the volunteers for their extraordinary hospitality. And a special thanks goes to my team, whose impeccable dedication and passion made all this possible. This result rewards the work of the entire team—athletes, coaches, and staff. These medals demonstrate how much room for improvement our sport still has. Beyond what is often said about guns in general, this spectre of fear, we intend to invest in a new season, in a new brand identity that showcases the benefits of practicing this sport. Shooting is an inclusive sport, which we want to further encourage young people to appreciate by entering schools, because it trains balance, concentration, and discipline. And it can be practiced by everyone, truly everyone.
The medals in detail
Accompanying the athletes on this adventure was Director of Olympic and Paralympic Training Pierluigi Ussorio, who commented on the Italian team's performances: " I am extremely satisfied because we return from these Mediterranean Games in Taranto with three medals: gold for Danilo Sollazzo and silver for Margherita Veccaro in the individual events, and another silver in the mixed rifle event, again with Danilo paired with Carlotta Salafia. We have become accustomed to his performances by now; remember, he is the reigning European champion, and together with Carlotta they won bronze in Ningbo in 2025 and finished fourth at the Cairo World Championships that same year, which shows that they are a well-matched and top-level team. Margherita's silver medal is particularly significant, as the women's team deserved a victory that they have come close to on many occasions, and it rewards the work they are doing. She competed in a very challenging competition and final, managed with maturity and skill, never giving up until the end, so much so that only the Olympic champion was ahead of her. of Mixed Team Zorana Arunović and the bronze went to the Olympic silver medalist in Paris in the same specialty Sevval Tarhan ”.
Even some regrets
But beyond the medals, I also want to remember Edoardo Bonazzi's finals after he finished the qualification with the best score, and Salafia's in the individual event. So overall, I'm very happy with the entire team, young and talented guys, a group of friends who stick together and support each other. My compliments also go to the entire technical and medical staff for the work they are carrying out with seriousness and professionalism. The regret obviously remains for Paolo Monna and Federico Maldini, our two Olympic medalists, let's remember, who probably felt the weight of competing in front of their home crowd too much. They deserved more, but this, however, doesn't change the value of two world-class athletes by a millimeter, and they will have plenty of time to make up for it: the journey to Los Angeles 2028 has only just begun. Lastly, I want to add and highlight the compliments paid to our Federation for the beautiful facility it built and for the overall organization of the event, received from all the delegations present and not least from the Technical Delegate: this we can consider it the fourth medal to pin on our chest " (source: UITS).
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