The maximum championship returns to Italy after 24 years: at the end of August competing in Recetto, in Piedmont, 35 nations and 200 athletes. And the blues aim for medals
In Italy, a water skiing World Cup had not been seen for 24 years. It was 2001 and Thomas Degasperi He was little more than a boy: just 20 years old, a thirst for crazy victory, and a European junior title already in his pocket. “Just that medal earned me the participation. I was not among the convened, but before the continental final, still on the platform, my coach tells me: if you win, come to the World Cup”. Born in 1981, born in Trento, Degasperi is the most winning skier in Italian history, and for 25 years among the best in the world. Two golds and three world silverseven European titles, dozens of competitions won, today it is still there, ready to battle. And he will still do it – at 44 – where his wake of victories began, in Recetto, in the province of Novara. This will be the theater of the championship which will be staged from 26 to 31 August with over 200 athletes and 35 nations. With “Tgas” to the blocks and more loaded than ever. “I train every day – he tells Sacramento in California, where he is participating in a race – and I’m fine. This is a discipline that I loveand when I enter the water for a race I become another person. I could say I still have the sacred fire inside. Instead of decreasing with age, it is increasingly big. “
Training in the ring
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Physical and mind are fine, perhaps thanks also to boxing. “I am a little leaner and this is helping me, but thanks also to the training in the ring I also improved the reaction times”. Result? Six podiums on the last seven races, including the San Gervasio appointment of last week, where the best Italians found themselves, and where Degasperi has rose yet another first place. Now in sight there is a world championship that brings behind many expectations. There Fixwthe Italian Surfing, Boat Ski and Wakeboard Federation, which organizes it, presented it in Rome together with the sports ministers Andrea Abadi and Tourism Daniela Santanchite in front of an audience of authorities and journalists. “A dream that comes true“, Said Luciano Serafica, sports director and administrator of Fissw Servizi, operating arm for the event, with the federal president Claudio Ponzani alongside. A contest that makes proud, but that brings behind so much pressure on the team, and obviously also on the captain.” It is nice to have this race from us, but everyone expects results, yet I am still 44 years old “, jokes us on Degasperi.
All in Recetto
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It will be necessary to look at the Americans and the British, always at the highest levels in this discipline, all people but Tgas meets in the many weekends of the race. Then the blues are not to be envied, indeed they are considered an excellence in this field. And they have the advantage of playing at home, on a race field, the Federal Technical Center precisely, who know well. In a few weeks Recetto will start animating. The races are at the end of August, but athletes, coaches and respective families They will meet on the bank of the river Sesia weeks earlier To taste the water. Italy will be there: dragged again by the Trentino champion, ready once again to turn into Super-Man once the bib.
La Gazzetta dello Sport
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