100 days before the Olympics: Which South Tyroleans will be there?

But before that, a quick look back: In 2016, 7 athletes from our country took part in the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. An 8th athlete would also have qualified, but Alex Schwazer was banned shortly before the games for alleged doping. South Tyrol's athletes even won 3 medals in Rio: Tania Cagnotto secured silver in synchronized jumping and bronze in the individual, always from the 3-meter board, while Simone Giannelli won silver with Italy's volleyball team.

Winning medals is also possible this time, especially by the athletes mentioned first, who have already secured their Olympic ticket because they are among the best in the world. Depending on their chances of taking part in the Olympics, athletes are divided into 5 categories with different numbers of Olympic rings, starting with the 5 rings for the fixed starters.

All graphics: M. Lemanski

Qualification criteria: When he won the 200 meter freestyle at the Italian Championships in Riccione, he reached the Olympic limit for Italy's already qualified 4x200 m relay team - as the only "Azzurro" for the time being. This means he also has a good chance of getting one of Italy's two starting places for the 2 meter freestyle individual race. Italy's relay definitely has a chance of winning a medal.

On the way to Tokyo: At the European Championships in Budapest from May 16th to 23rd and at the Sette Colli Meeting in Rome from June 25th to 27th, Ballo will be chasing the limit for “his” 200 meter freestyle.

Qualification criteria: Italy secured one of the 2019 Olympic berths in August 12 by winning the intercontinental qualifying tournament in Bari - with Giannelli as the undisputed regular starter. The 2-meter man also has a place in the “Azzurri” squad for Tokyo, who are hunting for medals again.

On the way to Tokyo: Before the Olympics, Giannelli's priority is his Club Trentino Volley. After the elimination in the semi-finals of the Italian Superlega, the focus is on the Champions League final on May 1st in Verona against the Polish top team Zaksa Kedzierzyn Kozle.

Qualification criteria: Thanks to his excellent 14th place in the combined ranking of the 2019 Sport Climbing World Championships in Tokyo, the man from Val Gardena moved up to the starting field when the Olympic starting places were reallocated after the Olympic postponement due to corona. He is one of the 20 starters in the first Olympic sport climbing competition as the second “Azzurro” alongside speed world champion Ludovico Fossali.

On the way to Tokyo: The sport climbers still have several World Cups on their schedule before the Olympics, including in Meiringen (CH), Salt Lake City (USA), Innsbruck (A) and Chamonix (F).

Qualification criteria: The top 56 in the world rankings and a maximum of 4 per nation qualify for the tennis tournament. Sinner meets both requirements with great scope as the current No. 22 in the world and No. 3 in Italy (the unqualified No. 5, Stefano Travaglia, is at No. 67 in the ATP rankings). Whether Sinner might also play doubles and mixed doubles will probably only be decided on site.

On the way to Tokyo: Before the Olympics, Sinner will gain experience at some top tournaments, including the French Open and Wimbledon, and try to climb even further up the rankings.

Qualification criteria: Italy secured one of the 2019 Olympic berths in August 12 by winning the intercontinental qualifying tournament in Catania - with Folie as a middle blocker. Above all, thanks to the powerful points provider Paola Egonu, the “Azzurre” are among the medal candidates.

On the way to Tokyo: Folie would certainly be a regular player for the Olympics if she didn't have knee problems. So it's time to hope, take care of your knees and support your club Imoco Conegliano in the league final against Novara from April 17.4th. and in the Champions League final on May 1.5st. against Vakivbank Istanbul in Verona.

Qualification criteria: The UCI rankings decide on the number of starters per country a few weeks before the Olympics - according to the UCI homepage, Italy's men's team is currently entitled to 2 starting places, and according to the Italian association even 3. The first starting place should go to Luca Braidot. The second best “Azzurro” in the individual ranking is Kerschbaumer.

On the way to Tokyo: There are four more World Cup races planned before the Olympics, provided there are no Corona problems, in Albstadt, Nove Mesto, Leogang and Les Gets.

Qualification criteria: The UCI rankings decide on the number of starters per country shortly before the Olympics - according to the UCI homepage, Italy's women are currently entitled to two starting places, while the Italian association speaks of only one. In the individual ranking, Lechner is the best “Azzurra” in 2th place – with very good chances of making her 5th Olympic appearance.

On the way to Tokyo: As for the men, four World Cup races are planned before the Olympics, provided there are no Corona problems: in Albstadt, Nove Mesto, Leogang and Les Gets.

Qualification criteria: The top 26 of the qualifying rankings from June 14th and a maximum of 3 per nation qualify for the starting field in the individual triathlon - Steinhauser is currently number 23 in the world and number 3 in Italy, so he is currently qualified. It will be tight to take part in the mixed relay with 2 men and 2 women because she has 2 “Azzurre” in front of her.

On the way to Tokyo: The triathletes still have several World Cups on their schedule before the Olympics, including in Lisbon and Arzachena in May, as well as the European Championships in Kitzbühel in mid-June.

Qualification criteria: Italy is allowed to nominate 4 starters for the Olympic road race, and the 2017 junior double world champion will (still) have a hard time being there. In the time trial, however, where she won bronze at the U23 World Championships in 2019 and narrowly missed the same medal last year, she has a pretty good chance.

On the way to Tokyo: With her team “Valcar – Travel & Service”, Pirrone is taking part in some top-class races these months, such as the “Ronde de Mouscron” in Belgium at the beginning of the month, where she helped her teammate Chiara Consonni to victory.

Qualification criteria: The World Cup in Tokyo, planned as a qualification for the last Olympic starting places, will take place at the beginning of May. Maicol Verzotto can get his Olympic ticket in diving from the 10-meter tower, but he will most likely not be nominated for synchronized diving (with his younger brother Julian).

On the way to Tokyo: Via Tokyo to Tokyo - Verzotto's only really important pre-Olympic competition is the one mentioned above from May 1st to 6th in the Olympic city.

Qualification criteria: Around 50 of the 70 participants in the Olympic table tennis tournament have already been announced. Another 4 will be added at the European qualifiers next week in Portugal, in which Vivarelli is taking part. After that, there are still 8 remaining places in the adjusted world rankings, in which Vivarelli is currently in 71st place as the clearly best “Azzurra”.

On the way to Tokyo: The European qualifiers will take place from April 21st to 25th in Odivelas, Portugal.

Qualification criteria: She qualified early for the 2016 Olympics thanks to her 2014 World Championship title in the 10m air rifle competition. This time she has to hope for the European Championships in Croatia for this discipline or the three-position fight or for remaining places in the world rankings. There she is the best “Azzurra” in 29th and 41st place respectively. If the qualification goes well, the team competition would also be possible.

On the way to Tokyo: The European Championship in Osijek in Croatia, which is the deciding factor for the Olympic ticket, will take place from May 23rd to June 6th.

Qualification criteria: The limit for the 400 m race (51,35 seconds) is probably out of reach for the Eggental native, but it could work in the relay. The “Azzurre” have not yet qualified, but can do so at the unofficial World Relay Championships in Poland at the beginning of May.

On the way to Tokyo: Last week Nardelli was one of 7 “Azzurre” at a relay training camp in Formia. On April 16th, Nardelli wants to compete in the “Stadio dei Marmi” in Rome for the World Athletics Relays in Chorzow (Poland) on April 1st/2nd. May qualify.

Qualification criteria: Many participants in the Olympic table tennis tournament have already been confirmed. Another 4 will be added at the European qualifiers next week, in which Piccolin will also take part. After that, there are still 8 remaining places from the adjusted world rankings, in which she is currently ranked 115th. She also has a mini chance of winning the mixed doubles with Niagol Stoyanov, with whom she is ranked 26th in the world rankings.

On the way to Tokyo: The European qualifiers will take place from April 21st to 25th in Odivelas, Portugal.

Qualification criteria: The limits for individual races are no longer achievable for them. Only for the 4x100 m freestyle relay there is still a small spark of hope - but under 2 conditions: that the “Azzurre” as a team get one of the 8 places still available and that Letrari at the Sette-Colli meeting at the end of June She is one of the top four Italians in the 100 m freestyle.

On the way to Tokyo: The all-important Sette Colli meeting will take place in Rome from June 25th to 27th. She will not be at the European Championships in Budapest in mid-May.

Qualification criteria: According to the UCI rankings, Italy's women are currently entitled to 2 starting places. If this is also the case with the deadline shortly before the Olympics and Seiwald's results up to that point also match, there would also be hope for the Gsieserin, who is currently the fourth best “Azzurra” in the individual ranking as 54th.

On the way to Tokyo: Before the Olympics, four World Cup races are planned for the mountain bikers, provided there are no Corona problems, in Albstadt, Nove Mesto, Leogang and Les Gets. The special case of Alex Schwazer (36 years old, Kalch/Ratschings) Possible Olympic date: 50 km walking on August 6.8th

The qualification criteria are secondary for walker Alex Schwazer. Before that, it would take the decision of the World Athletics Federation and the Anti-Doping Agency to lift his doping ban. Italy's parliament and the National Olympic Committee (CONI) are putting pressure on the court in Bolzano to recognize its investigation, according to which Schwazer was cheated in the doping test. It remains to be seen whether the ban will actually be lifted. And there is also time pressure because Schwazer would have to reach the required limit (31:3 hours) within May 50st.

On the way to Tokyo: ... Above all, Schwazer has to hope for insight.

Opportunities to participate: Without rating ...And there were also... This overview contains profiles of 17 South Tyrolean athletes who have a chance of getting an Olympic ticket - some more, others less. In addition to these, there are other top athletes in South Tyrol who were hoping for the Olympics but probably won't make it. Table tennis players should be mentioned here Jordy Piccolin , the divers Julian Verzotto and Vladimir Barbu , the sports shooters Barbara Gambaro and Simon Weithaler , beach volleyball player Jacob Windisch , basketball player Alexander Lever , triathlete Matthias Steinwander , the badminton players Yasmine Hamza, Katharina Fink and Kevin Strobl , the track and field athletes Valentina Cavalleri and Caren Agreiter , the whitewater canoeists Jacob and Matthias Weger and Jacob Luther and tennis players Andreas Seppi . All strong athletes – even without the Olympics.

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100 days before the Olympics: Which South Tyroleans will be there?

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