Lucrezia Fortunato, born in Vailate in 2010, a promising young volleyball player who reached the regional title from a small provincial town. In an interview, between one training session and another she reveals some details of her great sporting passion.
Lucrezia Fortunato and her love for volleyball
When did you start playing volleyball?
“I started playing minivolley in Vailate as a child also because my mother Luisa, as well as being a C series player, has always been present in Vailate Volleyball. I then played in the under 13 team in Crema (Volley 2.0) in which I won the provincial title in the previous season and I was awarded by Paola Egonu, a national and world volleyball star. It was very exciting! I also played in the under 14 team of Crema for the Cremona-Lodi territorial committee.”
How did you choose Milan?
“Leonardo Barbieri, territorial selector of Cremona-Lodi, called me a year ago to participate in the provincial trophy. On this occasion I was noticed by some companies who looked for me and then I chose Bracco Pro Patria Milano and for me it was a very important point of arrival. Here I play in the two roles of dribbler and attack. A few days ago we played a great match and won against Vibest Bellusco, winning the title of regional champions. I was also awarded as the best player of the final at Ponte San Pietro. I was very happy.”
Are the workouts challenging?
“Yes, I go there every day except Wednesday, but then I often train on that day too, like today for example. I have to go to Milan and so after school I eat, do my homework and then leave with my mother. I almost go back always in the evening, today I will arrive home at around 9.30pm”.
Yours is truly a great passion, it can be perceived from how you talk about it. How do you manage to combine school and sport?
“I go to eighth grade in Vailate and the teachers give me a hand: if they know I have a competition, they try to arrange the questions for me beforehand. This year I also have eighth grade exams and I’m writing a paper on volleyball. It couldn’t have do not be like that…”.
How is your relationship with your classmates and friends, given that you have little free time available?
“It’s nice, my classmates often come to watch me play and cheer for me, especially three of them. Once, when the Serie D championship ended, they organized a surprise pizza for me, which made me very happy In addition to the friends from my town, there are those from Crema with whom I played a lot and who still follow me in my matches. Even if we no longer play together, we still have strong bonds.”
And how do you find yourself in Milan?
“Great, they welcomed me with open arms and it’s a truly fantastic group.”
You know, don’t you, that there’s a lot of talk about you in town?
“I’m also happy because many people follow me. I think it’s a good thing for everyone: for friends, for my family and for all sports enthusiasts. I was also very pleased by all the articles written about me (which I posted immediately!)”.
What do mom and dad say?
“They are very proud of me and have passed on the passion for sport in their DNA! They are both very sporty and therefore they understand me and understand me in my choices even if they are a little tiring, like traveling to Milan every day.”
What are your next challenges?
“On 7-8-9 May I was called up for the Milan, Monza and Lecco representatives for the Territories Trophies, and now I am training with my teammates for the national finals in Cesena which will take place from 27 May to 2 June “.
