Deborah Vivarelli smells Olympic air for the first time. © Deborah Vivarelli

Athletes from South Tyrol are in the starting block for the Olympic Games. On the first official day of competition, Simone Gianelli and Deborah Vivarelli got down to business.

23 July 2021

Author Leo

Simone Gianelli has a big responsibility in the Italy national volleyball team. Not without reason, as the 24-year-old from Bolzano is one of the best in the world. On Friday through Saturday night, the silver medalist from Rio de Janeiro wants to prove once again that he can handle it when Italy meets Canada in the first group game at 2 p.m. (CEST).

Although not the great power of North American volleyball, they are in a position to upset the better teams on paper in no time. Italy has felt it for the first time many times. Of the last six doubles, the Canadians won five – including a group game at the Games in Rio. Eventually, Giannelli & Co won 3:2 at the last meeting in early June. Gianlorenzo Blangini’s team will not underestimate their opponent. Success in any case will be incredibly important, as the duel against world champions Poland is in the second group game.

Vivarelli at 2 pm.

Unlike volleyball players, table tennis ace Deborah Vivarelli does not yet know her opponent. It will only be determined at 2 pm (CEST) on Saturday in a qualifying game between 48-year-old Australian Le Jiang Feng (156th in the world rankings) and Cuban Daniela Fonseca Carazana (290). The winner of this match will face Epenerin, currently ranked 71st in the world rankings, at 2 pm (CEST). In view of this, the South Tyrolean can be expected to win on their first participation in the Olympics.