Italy is the world champion in wheelchair hockey. After a hard-fought final against Denmark, the team won 2–1 in regulation (3–2 on penalties).
It is the first time the Italian national team has reached the top of the podium. «This is a historic moment for our sport, and for me it's an extraordinary emotion,» said Antonio Spinelli, president of the Italian Wheelchair Hockey Federation. «This victory was hard-won but deserved — he added — and it's the fruit of tremendous work by our entire national team staff and beyond. Our movement has grown tremendously at the club level, and the national team has improved significantly over the past four years. That dedication has brought us to the top of the world. Bravo, everyone!»
The Italian squad proved strong and unified throughout the World Championship, which concluded today in Lignano Sabbiadoro. «Congratulations, you were magnificent. A victory born of heart and grit. You gave everyone an unforgettable show,» said Luca Pancalli, president of the Italian Paralympic Committee, who was present in Lignano Sabbiadoro.
A major milestone for wheelchair hockey. The sport arrived in Italy in the early 1990s through the efforts of Luigi Maccione (known as Puccio) and the UILDM Youth Group. Since then, the path has been long. The Italian wheelchair hockey national team was founded in 2002 and had previously achieved a fourth-place finish at the 2010 World Championships and a second-place finish at the 2016 European Championships.
«When Puccio Maccione first brought wheelchair hockey to UILDM events, he never imagined we would reach this level — said Marco Rasconi, national president of UILDM — but here we are. We've gotten here not just by chasing competition, but by pursuing inclusion that lifts everyone up. Wheelchair hockey embodies a simple truth: that unity, regardless of physical strength or ability, leads to great things.»
Source: UILDM