Paris 2024, Manila Esposito: “I didn’t expect the medal” 

“I started out telling myself that I had nothing to lose. I tried to do the best exercise possible and I didn’t quite succeed, I made a couple of mistakes, although obviously I’m satisfied with this bronze.

I dedicate this medal to all those who support me. Today my mother, my grandmother and my aunt were here, who came from Naples together with my friends”.

Manila Esposito, third on the beam in the competition that gave Italy the historic gold medal to Alice D'Amato (the first in the history of women's artistic gymnastics), commented on her performance in the mixed zone.

“For me it was already a dream to be here in an Olympics – continues the Italian -. I have always dreamed of being able to participate and I never expected an individual medal.

Hearing Alice's victory anthem gave me chills. Simone Biles fixed my microphone in the conference? She saw how excited I was. Being able to play a final with her is a lot, beating her was unthinkable until a few months ago. Unfortunately she made a small mistake, but as champions like that I can only learn”.