The youngest world champion of the story in history is inspired by Powell, Jacobs and Carl Lewis: “He was the son of the wind, I am Spiderman”
The room is on the fourth floor of the Anniversaire homotexando, in Kito-Aoyama, in Minato City, in the heart of Tokyo. It is here that Adidas, during the World Cup, scattered on an elegant building that has eight floors, has prepared its hospitality. The athletes come and go, accompanied by coaches, managers and federation managers. Interviewed and interviewer, facing each other, rigorously without shoes, are sitting at land height on a similar tatami: Mattia Furlani, at 20 years old the youngest world champion of the long history, despite the few hours of sleep, is brilliant as always.
Mattia, what feelings do you feel the next day?
“It is really cool, a strong emotion, a magic”.
“I threw myself on the bed that it was clear. At half past 10 I was awake, but I was still down an hour.”
How many messages did you receive?
“I think a thousand. Among the most welcome those of my rapper friends: Ghali, whom I have never met, but who often gets alive. And Astro, with whom I collaborated”.
Now do you believe in what he did?
“Listened to the hymn of Mameli in Medal Plaza, a little more. On the podium, having been the first, I thought of Nanchino’s indoor world gold of March.”
When will he return to Italy?
“Tomorrow (today, editor’s note): the homeland calls … I would have liked to take a holiday in these parts, but after 15 days of Japan and what happened, I feel the need to return. Who knows the welcome of the Reatini”.
“Giulia, my girlfriend. And a little tranquility: it was a year full of trips: China, the United States, Finland, Spain, England, Switzerland and here. I want to wake up in my bed and be with friends”.
What will he do when he is at home?
“I will play at the PlayStation, to basketball and listen to the South Korean rap music produced by my brother Luca. Then I will eat Supplì”.
Mom is receiving many attention: is he happy?
“Holy mom: we are in a team, everyone gives 100%. The gold is of many, she is the number 1 architect”.
He says he doesn’t like the sand: confirms?
“True: I preferred the tall and jump on the elastic rugs”.
When on October 20, after holidays to program, will you return to work, what will you aim for?
“We will go in search of stability, to consolidate all aspects of the jump. It is what I missed this year. We will increase volumes and loads. For now we have gone with the handbrake pulled”.
What can improve?
“The landing, for example.” I close “in cabbage. Only in 8.39 has it been up to par. It is more a physical question, than technique, which can be enhanced through core stability exercises. We will calibrate everything”.
What more impresses with her is the speed: don’t you feel like running a 100?
“Others, even if I know how much I am worth. Certain parameters are monitored. But I don’t say it, because I would pass for a braggart. Few would believe me. A 100 or 60 indoors: I have to find the opportunity”.
“It will be a more peaceful season, with the European Championships in Birmingham as the highlight. Some windows can open.”
“I love to get involved, I would like to enter the group. Carl Lewis did not lose one: even a long -term can do them.”
The final brought to Tokyo 1991 won by Mike Powell with the world record of 8.95 on Lewis. How was his meeting with Mike?
“We met at the Sports Festival in Trento in 2023. What luck: it is in history, it is a mentor, an inspirer. I was struck by his simplicity. I was an 18 -year -old nobody. Yet, he did not escape comparison. Indeed.”
What would those two want?
“Mike’s physical structure and Carl’s lightness. The primates? Make me grow a little at a time. They are not impossible, I give me six years to bring them closer. Now a realistic goal is 8.60. Meanwhile, I am proud to close 2025 at the top of the ranking”.
In Lewis he stole the primacy of earliness.
“It is worth so much. I hope to overcome it for podiums and measures”.
If he was the son of the wind, who is you?
Do you have a message for your rivals?
“I beat Gayle, who won the Doha 2019 World Cup with 8.69: we will see you again soon. As with Tentoglou: it’s a giant, but nobody is a robot”.
Among the world championship colleagues, who admires more?
“Saying Duplantis is obvious. I quote Kerr, king of the Upper, and the Kambundji, queen of the 100 obstacles. I know Ditaju, we have made several races together. Her sister, the sprinter Mujinga, is from the period of my sister Erika: they will give birth in the same days”.
Giving himself to young people, on Wednesday night, he said: “Don’t be afraid to challenge the world”.
“You need to throw yourself into the fray, without fear. It is a form of respect for yourself and your work.”
Who were his references?
“One for everyone: Marcell Jacobs, a great champion. We felt after my final. I am happy that he will be part of the relay of the relay (he had not yet been made official … editor’s note)”.
Did Roma invited it to Trigoria or a game?
“If he doesn’t do it, I go there anyway; if he does it, all the better. But I don’t make predictions for Sunday derby”.
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