DUBAI – The San Marino Pavilion acknowledged two of the country’s Olympic medallists – Alessandra Perilli and Gian Marco Berti – in a special ceremony on Saturday, in the lead-up to the country’s National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai on Sunday (13 February).
The Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics saw San Marino, one of the smaller European countries with a population close to 34,000, win three medals, now boasting the highest Olympic medal count per capita.
Shottist Alessandra Perilli, who made history as the first San Marino athlete ever to win a medal, placed third in the women’s trap event.
Perilli said: “Nine years ago, in London, I placed fourth. In 2016, in Rio, I didn’t place well, but I dreamed of winning a medal. Four years later, I did it in Tokyo. I hope to send a message to young people that anything is possible.”
Perilli joined Gian Marco Berti for the first-ever mixed-gender trap shooting team competition, earning silver behind Spain.
San Marino first entered the Olympics in 1960, and at each subsequent event has competed in shooting.
Berti said: “We have a big tradition in shooting. San Marino has the perfect environment to be a good shooter, and we have a great federation and an Olympic committee that work hard to prepare our athletes for this event.”
