LA SPEZIA – Shortly before the start of the women’s 10 km walk of the 2024 Italian Athletics Championships, which ended with the triumph and personal best of Trapletti, OA Sport met Stefano MeiPresident of FIDAL.
Before being President, as a native of La Spezia, what does it feel like to see the Absolutes held in your own city at the moment of maximum splendor of Italian athletics?
“We had obtained these Italian championships already in 2020, but due to the well-known pandemic events we had to postpone. By dint of postponing we have arrived in 2024, another Olympic year and it is clear that we have entered a new dimension since Tokyo 2020. We are certainly the strongest Federation in Europe, and one of the strongest in the world. Let’s go to the Olympics, with the Absolutes in the middle, two and a half weeks from the fantastic European Championships in Rome. A success of both technical and media interest with a medal collection that brings to mind moments from the GDR or the Soviet Union. Returning to La Spezia everything seems perfect, with the ‘Montagna’ being a real gem. We recorded a real invasion of fans and enthusiasts, all looking for autographs or selfies with our champions. In fact, only yesterday there were 10 gold medals from the European Championships in Rome on the track. The only thing that surprised us was the suffocating heat, yesterday was perhaps the hottest day of the year.”
Regarding the 10 European champions, let’s talk about Nadia Battocletti. The Italian confirmed her performance yesterday with another great performance, winning the Italian title in her 5000 metres. In your career you have clocked up kilometers of cross-country and road running, before exploding on the track. Can you foresee the same type of path undertaken by Yeman Crippa which leads to long distances?
“She certainly has other qualities than Crippa, perhaps a little more speed. In the women’s sector, the competition from African athletes is fierce, she will go to the Olympics with the knowledge that getting on the podium will be very difficult, but by doing her best she will be able to take her chances. The same will apply to Crippa, who will have to compete judiciously. The marathon in Paris will be very difficult and Yeman will have to stay there and wait for any mistakes from his rivals. Returning to Nadia, she is an exceptional athlete, she won two gold medals in Rome, setting a personal record. There is little to say, I believe that 5000m and 10000m athletes shouldn’t think too much about a future as a marathon runner. Paradoxically I would still focus on the shorter distances. She is very young and will have time to extend her range.”
Let’s talk about one of the absentees who is a source of much curiosity. In the men’s triple jump, a brawl broke out between his former compatriots, while he instead gave up several competitions. We are obviously talking about Andy Diaz. How is he? Can you reassure us about the condition of the Italian-Cuban?
“He had some small problems, but we are calm. There are still three full weeks until the key event, and the fact that Andy will become eligible for the national team from August 1st has had an impact. He was the best in the world for two years, we don’t pretend that he still is, but there is every hope that he can have a great Olympics”.
Finally we come to the summer hit. Once upon a time under the umbrellas there was debate about the ideal relay between Totti and Del Piero, today instead we try to hypothesize the composition of the 4×100…
“I’ll start by saying that I never go into the merits, especially regarding the relays. We have very good technicians who know what to do. It is clear that there is abundance, it is there for all to see. Melluzzo clocked 10.12, partially alleviating the burden of the unfortunate episode in the semi-final in Rome. We saw Ali, and in theory these should be the reserves… Let’s be calm, we know that the relay is particular and is often a lottery. The positive thing is that we are very prepared for the changes and the key moments of the race. It’s clear that you have to run fast, but you also have to make the baton go fast. We will try to do our best with the composition that Mr. Di Mulo wants to choose.”
