Doha World Championships: Franceschi takes bronze and the Olympic pass in the 400 medley, on the podium also the Italians in the 4x100 medley

An unexpected blue flash illuminates the final day of the World Swimming Championships in Doha.

Advancing to the finals with the eighth fastest time (4:43.61), an impressive Sara Franceschi (photo ANSA) hit the jackpot by clinching the bronze medal in the 400-meter medley, securing an individual qualification for Paris 2024 in the process.

Not at her physical best, the Italian put her heart and soul into the pool, held her own against the best and in the end finished with 4:37.86. The winner was Britain's Freya Constance Colbert (4:37.14), silver went to Israel's Anastasia Gorbenko (4:37.36). It is the second world medal in the history of the national team in the women's 400 medley after Novella Calligaris' bronze in Belgrade 1973. Thus, there are currently 94 Italian women qualified for the Olympics while the men have 93.

The Italian 4x100 mixed relay team of Michele Lamberti, Nicolò Martinenghi, Gianmarco Sansone and Alessandro Miressi also did very well. Already qualified for the Olympic Games, Italian athletes took a well-deserved bronze medal. Benedetta Pilato also secured third in the (non-Olympic) 50 breaststroke race.