Turin: sensational success for Rudy Project athletes

The Turin 2006 Winter Olympics closed with sensational success for Rudy Project athletes, around 180 from countries in addition to Italy, and all wearing ImpactX photochromic lenses.

The outcome of twenty years of technological research and of materials improvement thanks to the continuous collaboration of all the medallists, the excellent results achieved in the various specialties were awarded by 18 gold, 13 silver and 14 bronze medals.

An impressive and thrilling victory for Italy's Giorgio Di Centa in the 50 km cross country skiing brought Italy its eleventh and last gold medal. The winner wore Ekynox Sx glasses, which were made for the occasion with a special chromed finish.

In speed skating, Enrico Fabris won a bronze in the 5000 meters, a gold in the team pursuit together with Ippolito Sanfratello and Matteo Anesi, and thrashed his opponents in the 1500 meters to finish with the best time of 1'45'97. A historic feat that makes him an ace in this discipline, as well as the Italian athlete who won the most medals at these Olympics.

Triumph in the women's Nordic team sprint skiing for Sweden's Anna Dahlberg and Lina Andersson, while in the men's, Bjorn Lindh won a gold also in the individual sprint event. Beckie Scott gained a silver in the women's.

Gold for Rudy athletes also in the Biathlon: Michael Greis from Germany won the men's 20 km individual event, the men's 15 km individual and the 4x7,5 km team with Ricco Gross and Michael Roesch, while Martina Glagow won the silver in the women's 15 km and in the 4x6 km team with Katrin Apel, Andrea Henkel and Kati Wilhem. There were other significant results in the women's 10 km pursuit with first place going to Kati Wilhelm and second to Martina Glagow. Another silver went to Kati Wilhem in the women's 12.5 km and Lilia Efremova from the Ukraine came third in the 7.5 km sprint.

Germans Ronny Ackermann and Bjorn Kircheisen took the silver in the Nordic combined 4x5 km team event. The women's relay saw another silver going to Evi Sachenbacher and Viola Bauer. Bronze medals for Gabriella Paruzzi, Arianna Follis and Antonella Confortola from Italy.

In the men's 15 km Nordic skiing, Andrus Veerpalu won the gold and the bronze went to Germany's Tobias Angerer. In the men's 4x10 km relay the gold medal was won by Giorgio di Centa and Cristian Zorzi, the silver by Germans René Sommerfeldt and Tobias Angerer, and the bronze by Sweden's Anders Soedergren, Mathias Fredriksson and Hans Olsson. A bronze medal in the women's 10 km cross country event went to Hilde Pederson from Norway.

Excellent results also in the short track, with a brilliant third place in the women's 3000 meter relay going to Italians Marta Capurso, Arianna Fontana, Katia Zini and Mara Zini.

All Rudy Project athletes wore the Freeon, Rydon and Ekynox models.