The Italian women’s deaf volleyball team has made it to the highest podium at the European championships. Led by coach Alessandra Campedelli, the women have had a clean run throughout the tournament, losing only one set in the opening match against Poland. After the silver at the last European championships in 2011, the time for gold has now come for the team, supported by Cattolica Assicurazioni. It is the first gold in the history of deaf volleyball for the FSSI (Italian Deaf Sports Federation), after the team took on Russia with a 3-0 win. A victory that embraces the entire world of deaf sport and the world of sport in general.

“I asked the girls for two things: to pay attention until the last minute, and to have courage,” said Alessandra Campedelli, the coach of the national women’s team. “They were brilliant at working together on the field and playing until the very end. It was a flat out 3-0 not because it was an easy game, but because we were brilliant. We took out an opponent with significant physical characteristics and with much more experience at playing in the finals than we have.”

“Today is a fantastic day because it is the first time that our national women’s team has won gold in volleyball,” added Guido Zanecchia, President of the FSSI. “It wasn’t an easy journey, even if we always had a clear win. It’s also an important result for the future: we’re hoping to find more and more athletes and to have teams that are even stronger.”