SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — He’s the Billy Beane of Olympic relays, using math and a massive database to win like the hero of “Moneyball.”
One of the biggest reasons why Italy has been able to contend with the much faster Americans and the more talented Jamaicans on a consistent basis lately is the relay maestro Filippo Di Mulo, who has broken down baton-exchanges to a science and keeps it all meticulously recorded in a nearly 25-year-old database.
kAm%96 $:4:=:2? 4@24965 E96 pKKFCC: E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^a_a_\E@A:4D\D92F?26\>:==6C\EC24<\2?5\7:6=5\2==JD@?\76=:I\D:72?\92DD2?\h`g3c63g4ece5``422h6`g56fb3cadb6QmcI`__ 8@=5 :? %@^2CE:4=6^H@C=5\492>A:@?D9:AD\EC24<\7:6=5\`__\C6=2J\d_367d32d`_a775h4f2fdaagf7h62`3hQmD:=G6C 2E =2DE J62C’D H@C=5 492>A:@?D9:ADk^2m[ 2?5 2?@E96C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>@?5@\5FA=2?E:D\6FC@A62?\492>A:@?D9:AD\7f4``e`bh`74623f3b32_cedag`5ffh4Qm8@=5 2E E96 C646?E tFC@A62? r92>A:@?D9:ADk^2m] w:D E62> :D 2 DEC@?8 4@?E6?56C 2E E96 !2C:D v2>6D H96? E96 >6?’D cI`__ 86ED F?56CH2J H:E9 %9FCD52JVD 962ED[ 7@==@H65 3J E96 7:?2= @? uC:52J]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 ?@E E96 72DE6DE :? E96 H@C=5] %96 p>6C:42?D 92G6 >@C6 DA665] qFE H6’C6 AC@323=J E96 36DE 2E E96 6I492?86D] p?5 :E D9@HD[” D2:5 {@C6?K@ !2EE2[ H9@ =65 @77 E96 H:??:?8 C6=2J :? %@
k9ams: |F=@VD 2=8@C:E9> E6==D 6249 CF??6C 9@H >2?J DE6AD E@ E2<6k^9am
kAmqJ E2<:?8 :?E@ 244@F?E 6G6CJ 2E9=6E6’D DA665 6?E6C:?8 2?5 6I:E:?8 E96 6I492?86 K@?6[ A=FD DEC:56 =6?8E9 2?5 7@@E D:K6[ s: |F=@ 92D 4C62E65 2? 2=8@C:E9> E@ 56E6C>:?6 H96C6 6I24E=J :? 6249 b_\>6E6C 6I492?86 K@?6 9:D CF??6CD D9@F=5 A@D:E:@? E96>D6=G6D 7@C E96:C DE2CE:?8 A@D:E:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 DAC:?E6CD 4@F?E 2 56E6C>:?65 ?F>36C @7 DE6AD E@ 86E E@ E96:C 2DD:8?65 DE2CE:?8 A@D:E:@?]k^Am
kAm“qFE ?@ 2E9=6E6 :D 2 >249:?6j E96J’C6 9F>2? 36:?8D[” s: |F=@ D2:5 :? 2? :?E6CG:6H H:E9 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD 2E xE2=J’D C6=2J EC2:?:?8 42>A :? #@>6 :? pAC:=] “$@ J@F’G6 8@E E@ 244@F?E 7@C :DDF6D =:<6 DE2CE:?8 E@@ D@@? @C E@@ =2E6] qFE 3J @H:?8 6G6CJ 2E9=6E6’D E6?56?4:6D[ x 42? 252AE] $@ x 5@?’E 24EF2==J FD6 E96 ?F>36C AC@G:565 3J E96 2=8@C:E9>] x 252AE :E E@ 6249 2E9=6E6’D 492C24E6C:DE:4D]”k^Am
kAms: |F=@ 4@2496D 2== @7 xE2=J’D C6=2JD @? E96 EC24<] p?5 E96 pKKFCC: 92G6 BF2=:7:65 :? 2== 7:G6 C6=2JD 7@C !2C:D]k^Am
kAm“w6’D 2 >28:4:2?[” D2:5 +2J?23 s@DDF[ xE2=J’D E@A 76>2=6 `__\>6E6C DAC:?E6C] “w6 E9:?
kAm%96 36=:67 :? s: |F=@ :D 2=D@ A2CE @7 E96 6BF2E:@?] xE’D H9J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>2C46==\;24@3D\A2C:D\@=J>A:4D\a_ac\2bc6hg3h2264d4a5eg5cdhhg2_5dh4f_Qm%@6E6C 492>A:@? |2C46== y24@3Dk^2m @7E6? D6ED 2D:56 E:>6 7@C C6=2J EC2:?:?8 42>AD]k^Am
k9amt77:4:6?E A2DD6D =625 E@ 2 9:89 ‘23:=:EJ :?56I’k^9am
kAms: |F=@ 7:CDE D2H D:8?D E92E 9:D >6E9@5D H6C6 H@C<:?8 H:E9 2 cI`__ D:=G6C 2E E96 a_`_ tFC@A62? r92>A:@?D9:AD :? q2C46=@?2]k^Am
kAm“(6 C2? bg]`f H:E9 2E9=6E6D H9@D6 36DE E:>6D H6C6 `_]ce[ `_]cb[ `_]`e 2?5 `_]`f] $@ :7 J@F 42=4F=2E6 E96 23:=:EJ :?56I — DF3EC24E:?8 E96 C6=2J C6DF=E 7C@> E96 DF> @7 E96 :?5:G:5F2= 2E9=6E6D’ 36DE E:>6D — :E 42>6 @FE E@ b]_d[” s: |F=@ D2:5]k^Am
kAm“$@ :7 x 925 D=:89E=J 72DE6C CF??6CD[ x 2=H2JD E9@F89E H6 4@F=5 H:?[” |F=@ 25565] “%96? y24@3D C2? h]g_ WE@ H:? :?5:G:5F2= 8@=5X 2?5 E92E’D H92E 92AA6?65]Qk^Am
kAm%96 @E96C >6>36CD @7 E96 C6=2J :? a_a` H6C6 u:=:AA@ %@CEF W`_]`_ A6CD@?2= 36DE E92E J62CX[ !2EE2 W`_]`bX 2?5 u2FDE@ s6D2=F W`_]bgX]k^Am
kAmxE2=J H@? 8@=5 :? %@2C< E92E s: |F=@ 9@=5D 2D 9:D 8@=56? DE2?52C5]k^Am
k9am%96 &$ E62> 9:DE@C:42==J 92D AC@3=6>D A2DD:?8 E96 32E@?k^9am
kAmx7 E96 p>6C:42? >6? 925 2 b\D64@?5 23:=:EJ :?56I[ E96J H@F=5 D6E E96 H@C=5 C64@C5 G:CEF2==J 6G6CJ J62C] qFE E96J 5@?’E]k^Am
kAmp?5 :E’D ?@E ;FDE 23@FE 5C@AA65 32E@?D — 2=E9@F89 E9@D6 92G6 92AA6?65 @7E6?]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^@=J>A:4D\EC24<\2>6C:42?D\C6=2J\d6`a4cdhfa4``4__b4ece7ff724f`3cbQm%96 p>6C:42?D 92G6?’E H@? E96 >6?’D cI`__k^2m 2E 2? ~=J>A:4D :? ?62C=J 2 BF2CE6C 46?EFCJ — D:?46 E96 a___ $J5?6J v2>6D]k^Am
kAm“%96J FDF2==J DF3EC24E `]a[ `]g[ >2J36 a D64@?5D H96? E96J’C6 8@:?8 H6==[” s: |F=@ D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 E@A 7@FC 7:?:D96CD 2E E96 &]$] EC:2=D E9:D J62C H6C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^a_ac\@=J>A:4D\`__>\=J=6D\E9@>AD@?\447bf`gc274a7bb`gaf`5c4chd5a2`e3Qm}@29 {J=6Dk^2m Wh]gbX[ z6??J q65?2C6< Wh]gfX[ uC65 z6C=6J Wh]ggX 2?5 r9C:DE:2? r@=6>2? Wh]hbX] p55 FA E96:C E:>6D Wbh]d`X[ DF3EC24E b 2?5 E96 C6DF=E @7 be]d` H@F=5 3C62< E96 H@C=5 C64@C5 E92E &D2:? q@=E’D y2>2:42 D6E 2E be]gc :? a_`a]k^Am
kAmp =:EE=6 >@C6 E92? 2 564256 28@[ s: |F=@ HC@E6 E@ &$p %C24< U2>Aj u:6=5 @776C:?8 E@ 4@249 E96 p>6C:42?D]k^Am
kAm“x E@=5 E96> x H@F=5 4@249 E96 >6?’D E62> 7@C 7C66 2?5 E92E E96J H@F=5 @?=J 92G6 E@ A2J >6 :7 H6 D6E E96 H@C=5 C64@C5 @C H@? E96 ~=J>A:4D[” s: |F=@ D2:5] “%96J E92?<65 >6 7@C E96 @776C 3FE E96J D2:5 E96J 925 7F== 72:E9 :? E96:C @H? 4@2496D]”k^Am
k9amxE2=JVD !2EE2 :D E96 E62>VD 36DE 32E@? A2DD6Ck^9am
kAmpE d\7@@E\g W`]fb >6E6CDX 2?5 `ba A@F?5D We_ <:=@8C2>DX[ !2EE2 :D E:?J 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 >@C6 >FD4F=2C DAC:?E6CD]k^Am
kAm(:E9 2 A6CD@?2= 36DE @7 `_]`b D64@?5D[ 96’D ?@E 2== E92E 72DE[ 6:E96C]k^Am
kAm(92E !2EE2[ 9@H6G6C[ 5@6D 36EE6C E92? 2?J@?6 6=D6 @? xE2=J’D E62> :D 8C23 2?5 92?5 @77 E96 32E@? — 6DA64:2==J @? E96 C646:G:?8 6?5]k^Am
kAm#:89E 2C> DEC6E4965 324=6DD >@E:@?]k^Am
kAm“(96? !2EE2’D :?G@=G65[ E96 6I492?86\K@?6 E:>6D 92G6 366? a]ee D64@?5Dj a]g_ H96? :E 8@6D A@@C=J[” s: |F=@ D2:5[ ?@E:?8 E92E 2?JE9:?8 F?56C b D64@?5D :D 4@?D:56C65 677:4:6?E]k^Am
kAms: |F=@ 5:5?’E 6G6? @H E96 7F== 6IE6?E @7 !2EE2’D 42A23:=:E:6D H96? 96 AFE 9:> :? A@D:E:@? E@ =625 @77 E96 C6=2J :? %@2<:?8 @?=J 9:D D64@?5 2AA62C2?46 @? E96 ?2E:@?2= E62>]k^Am
kAmpE =2DE J62C’D H@C=5D[ s: |F=@ >@G65 !2EE2 E@ E96 E9:C5 A@D:E:@? D@ 96 4@F=5 36 :?G@=G65 :? EH@ 92?5@77D]k^Am
k9am%96 xE2=:2? E62> 42? A2DD E96 32E@? 3=:?57@=565k^9am
kAm%96 xE2=:2?D AC24E:46 E96:C 92?5@77D 3J DE2?5:?8 DE:== 2?5 >@G:?8 E96 32E@? C2A:5=J 7C@> @?6 E@ 2?@E96C 7@C ?62C=J 2 92=7 9@FC 5FC:?8 6G6CJ EC2:?:?8 D6DD:@?] $@>6E:>6D H:E9 E96:C 6J6D 4=@D65]k^Am
kAm“w@H >2?J C6A6E:E:@?D 5@6D :E E2<6 7@C 2 8J>?2DE @? E96 A2C2==6= 32CD @C C:?8D E@ 86E E96:C C@FE:?6 A6C764En p?5 H6’C6 4@>:?8 :?E@ E96 6I492?86 K@?6 2E c_ A9X] %96D6 2C6 564:D:@?D E92E 2C6 >256 :? 2 7C24E:@? @7 2 D64@?5[” s: |F=@ D2:5]k^Am
kAm“t:E96C J@F’G6 5@?6 E96 C6A6E:E:@?D @C J@F 42?’E 5@ :E] ~C >2J36 J@F 42? 5@ :E @?46 3FE E96? ?@E 282:?] %96 >@C6 J@F AC24E:46 :E[ E96 >@C6 J@F :?4C62D6 E96 492?46 @7 5@:?8 :E H6==] q642FD6 >:DE2<6D 2C6 2=H2JD A@DD:3=6] *@F 4@F=5 AC24E:46 :E 2 E9@FD2?5 E:>6D 2?5 DE:== >2<6 2 >:DE2<6] %92E’D ;FDE 9@H E96 C6=2J :D]”k^Am
k9am$64C6E 52E232D6 92D 366? :? E96 H@C
kAms: |F=@ DE2CE65 4@>A:=:?8 9:D 52E232D6 @? tI46= :? a__`]k^Am
kAm“xE H@F=5 >2<6 J@FC 9625 DA:?[” 96 D2:5] “qFE x =:<6 DE2E:DE:4D]”k^Am
kAmp7E6C 6G6CJ EC2:?:?8 D6DD:@? 2?5 C246[ s: |F=@ HC:E6D 5@H? 2== D@CED @7 E:>6D 2?5 >62DFC6>6?ED :? 2 ?@E63@@<] %96? 96 EC2?D76CD E96> E@ 2? :!25 2?5 7:?2==J[ H96? 96 86ED 9@>6[ E@ E96 52E232D6 @? 9:D 4@>AFE6C]k^Am
kAm“xE E2<6D 9@FCD 2?5 9@FCD[” 96 D2:5] “$@>6E:>6D x >2<6 >J H:76 5@ :E]”k^Am
kAm$@ H92E 6I24E=J 5@6D E96 52E232D6 =@@< =:<6 2?5 9@H 5@6D s: |F=@’D 2=8@C:E9> H@C
kAm%92E’D E@A D64C6E] tG6? 7@C >6>36CD @7 9:D E62>]k^Am
kAm“w6’D ?6G6C 6G6? =6E FD E2<6 2 A66<[” !2EE2 D2:5]k^Am
k9am!2C:D A@DD:3:=:E:6D 7@C E96 xE2=:2? C6=2J E62>Dk^9am
kAm(:E9 y24@3D :? D64@?5 A@D:E:@?[ !2EE2 E9:C5 2?5 %@CEF E96 2?49@C[ s: |F=@ 925 366? =24<:?8 E96 :562= =625@77 >2?]k^Am
kAm%96? :? yF?6[ r9:EFCF p=: E@@< E96 D:=G6C >652= 369:?5 y24@3D 2E E96 tFC@A62? r92>A:@?D9:AD] %6? 52JD =2E6C p=: C2? 2 A6CD@?2= 36DE h]he E@ 364@>6 E96 E9:C5 xE2=:2? E@ 3C62< E96 `_\D64@?5 32CC:6C 27E6C %@CEF 2?5 y24@3D]k^Am
kAmqFE p=: 5@6D?VE =:<6 E96 :562 @7 CF??:?8 2=@?8 E96 4FCG6 @7 E96 EC24<[ D@ |2EE6@ |6==FKK@ 4@F=5 <66A 9:D DE2CE:?8 DA@E 7C@> E96 tFC@D G:4E@CJ]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 E96 5676?5:?8 492>A:@?D 2?5 H6’C6 DE:== ?@E 6IA64E65 E@ H:?[” y24@3D D2:5] “(6 42? CF? 7C66=J]”k^Am
k9C ^m
kAmp! ~=J>A:4Di k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^a_ac\A2C:D\@=J>A:4\82>6DQm9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^a_ac\A2C:D\@=J>A:4\82>6Dk^2mk^Am