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Athletes

Victory on Court 3: The Bomber Leads Italy to Glory

Male floorball athlete maneuvering the ball during a game.
Special Olympics Italy’s Francesco Cappiello, aka The Bomber, during a match against Special Olympics Germany at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. Photo credit: Alberto Gandolfo

13 March 2025. The Division B Unified floorball match on Court 3 was a thrilling showdown between Special Olympics Italy and Special Olympics Germany. The atmosphere was electric as Italian fans filled the stands, their cheers and songs echoing through the venue. The excitement reached its peak when the home team clinched a narrow 4 to 3 victory.

Leading the charge for Italy was forward Francesco Cappiello, affectionately known as "The Bomber." With three of the four goals to his name, Francesco's performance was nothing short of spectacular.

"They call me The Bomber because I work hard to score goals on target. But my main goal is to play well together with my teammates."
Francesco Cappiello, Special Olympics Italy Floorball Athlete
Two floorball players on the floor going for the ball.
Special Olympics Germany Unified partner Lucas Wetendorf (in black) and Special Olympics Italy Francesco Gappiello (in white) during a floorball game at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025.

Special Olympics Italy coach Luigi Lavermicocca was elated with the win, believing it set the team on a promising path to gold. "Winning our first victory in such a large venue will give the players even more motivation. And the energy from the crowd was very exciting," he remarked.

The Italian team's success resonated far and wide, capturing the attention of fans and media alike. The largest cheering section came from University of Turin sports science students. True enthusiasts of sport, they had come to witness the intense floorball competition, even though they didn't personally know any of the players on the court.

Special Olympics Floorball Fans in the Stands
The Italian fans were on the edge of their seats as Special Olympics Italy edged out Special Olympics Germany 4 to 3 during a floorball match at the Winter World Games 2025 in Turin, Italy.

After the game, Francesco and his teammates were swarmed by the Italian media, eager to capture the story of the day. Among the outlets present were Vanity Fair Italia, GEDI Gruppo (la Repubblica), Corriere della Sera, Radio24, Il Sole 24 Ore, Quotidiano Nazionale, Famiglia Cristiana, and Avvenire.

It was a match to remember, filled with passion, skill, and the unifying spirit of sport.

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