“You have to get back on track, trust the right people. Start the engine again, as if it were an emergency generator when the power goes out and then you’re back on the road. The physical part is simple, the mental part isn’t.” Amidst injuries and gold medals, an interview with the Italian breaststroke swimmer  

This year, the Italian athlete broke the long-standing Italian 800-metre record (1’43”7, set in 1973) and ran the distance in 1’42”67. “Now I’m recharging my batteries for the indoor season; I’ve missed it for the past two years due to physical problems: I want to improve my personal best, set the Italian record and head to the European Championships in Valencia with high hopes. That will be the first step.” Interview

The Italian judoka has secured her place on the world championship podium for the fifth time in a row (in the 48 kg category). Following her operation in April, “I was away from the tatami and the spotlight; I began to remember why I do this sport and how much I love it, and I got my thoughts in order.”

“My value isn’t just measured by the points I score, but by what I’m able to convey to my teammates, what I experience alongside them, and how well I’m able to gel with the team,” says the national team’s opposite hitter and captain of Numia Vero Volley

The Azzurri head into the European Championships as the defending runners-up. They make their debut on Thursday 10 September; at stake is not only the trophy but also a direct place at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. However, there are many unknowns

“In my professional and academic life, I’m constantly pushing myself further.” The Italian fencer recounts his experience in Hong Kong and points out that in fencing, it’s not easy to savour one’s achievements

Geneva’s toughest challenge is against herself: she never lets herself off the hook: “I compete against myself and if I don’t do what I want, I torment myself. It’s unthinkable not to be at the top; I have to at least come close to my own standards – I berate myself.”

In the final stage of the World Cup, the gymnast won silver in the ball event and bronze in the all-around. She will be heading to the World Championships in Frankfurt (12–16 August) “trying not to put any pressure on myself. In the gym, I only work on what I can control; everything depends on my concentration – the rest is out of my hands”