From Novella Calligaris to Sara Simeoni, from Paola Pigni to Betty Vignotto to Lea Pericoli: in the 70s their sporting and civil exploits intersected with the social and political achievements of the decade to pave the way for future generations
They jumped, ran, swam. They shot baskets, chased a ball. And every run, every shot, every goal achieved was equivalent to a blow to the old world that was disintegrating, piece by piece, shattered, like a wall that collapses and opens up new horizons to the gaze. The Italian women who played sports in the 70s, champions of everything and nothing, looked at with suspicion, delegated to social marginality, occasionally derided, more often underestimated. Mabèl Bocchi, Sara Simeoni, Novella Calligaris, Betty Vignotto, Paola Pigni and many others less known, but equally recognizable in their daily commitment to emancipation.