The youngest of the rowing legend family has won three Olympic medals of the most precious metal: in the 4 sculls in 1988 and 2000, and in the doubles in 1996: “When I hear my teammates the time has not passed. I supported my brothers but Redgrave was unreal”
Dazzle them. A surname that is history. For rowing and Italian sport he is associated with the successes of two brothers, Carmine and Giuseppe. But from Seoul 1988 Agostino Abbagnale made his way. The third brother of the dynasty capable of overtaking the first two in the Olympic palmares: three golds for the phenomenon of double rowing against the two won by the two-con champions. “And to think that at the beginning I also rowed as a tip (with a single oar, ed.), but then there was no one my age left at the club, so I started rowing as a pair and going out as a single.”
Agostino, you won three golds in three different editions of the Games. Which one are you most attached to?
“Every Olympics contains fantastic memories. In Seoul in 1988 all three brothers met and we achieved gold on the same day a few minutes apart: first the two-handed team of Giuseppe and Carmine with Peppiniello Di Capua as helmsman, followed by me with the four-handed team together with Davide Tizzano, Gianluca Farina and Pietro Poli”.
In Atlanta 1996 he then changed specialty…
“After missing the 1992 Barcelona Olympics due to a physical problem, in 1995 I returned to competitions and in just over a year I prepared for the Games and together with Davide Tizzano I triumphed in the doubles. A partly unexpected result.”
Four years later at Sydney 2000 the hat trick arrived.
“The victory in Sydney was the crowning achievement of his career. Everyone was expecting that gold medal. We had won the World Cup in 1997 and 1998 while in 1999 we just missed out on the final. In Australia, each of us had a desire for redemption.”
Have you ever felt in Sydney that you were experiencing a historic moment for Italian rowing?
“Absolutely yes. Also thanks to the extraordinary commentary of Giampiero Galeazzi, his enthusiasm, his competence and that name that will remain in everyone’s imagination: Knights of the Waters”.
Have you remained in contact with Raineri, Galtarossa and Sartori?
“Yes and when we see each other again it’s as if time had never passed. In a few minutes the 25 years that have passed since that fantastic day are erased.”
In 1992 he had to miss the Barcelona Games due to thrombosis in his left leg. Is it more the regret for not having had the chance to chase the fourth Olympic gold or the happiness for then returning to competition?
“I don’t think about it because things went as they were supposed to. They were difficult years. I lived with the possibility of not being able to row again. Then things improved and the possibility of being able to return to the water arose.”
Federal elections took place this year. The challenge for the presidency was between two people very dear to her: her brother Giuseppe and Davide Tizzano, a boatmate in two of the three Olympic successes. How did you experience these moments?
“It was a special thing to see them against each other for the position of president of the sport that I love. I hoped that Giuseppe would be able to reconfirm himself for a new four-year term, but I am convinced that Davide will be able to do his best for this generation of athletes.”
When you were young, who was your reference athlete? One of his brothers or the British Redgrave?
“Obviously I supported my brothers but what boy who approaches this sport doesn’t know and admire Redgrave’s exploits? He managed to win in five consecutive editions of the Games: from Los Angeles 1984 to Sydney 2000. A champion with both physiological and mental qualities. Reappearing four years later after winning an Olympic gold is not easy. To do it after winning 4 in twelve years is something unreal.”
Have you been lucky enough to meet champions of other disciplines in your Olympic adventures?
“Unfortunately not. Rowing often has the experience of five circles in villages close to the regatta field. In Atlanta, however, we were with all the other sports but to reach the competition area we had to take a long bus journey. In the morning we left very early and then we stayed at the area all day to carry out two training sessions. When we returned we were too tired to socialise”.
In 2006 he was awarded the Thomas Keller medal, a sort of rowing Oscar. In Italy only 4 athletes have received this recognition. There are three Abbagnale brothers…
“And the fourth is Francesco Esposito, another athlete from the Stabia club. He is also trained by Dr. La Mura, our uncle. Well, it is confirmation that our land has played a fundamental role in the history of rowing in Italy”.
From Olympic gold medals to a coaching career. For years he directed the project of the Blue College of Piediluco…
“After Covid this project was closed but I hope that the Federation can rethink it because important athletes have emerged from here: Giacomo Gentili and Luca Rambaldi silver in Paris in the four sculls, Stefano Oppo bronze in Tokyo and silver in Paris in the lightweight double”.
Today you are part of the national team staff. In Sydney he was Alessio Sartori’s boatmate, today he coaches his son Matteo. What effect does it have on her?
“I like him and I try every day to make him understand that he is the son of a great champion but being one and how to get there is a completely different thing.”
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