Figure Skating
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BY PASQUALE TEOLI - FIRST EPISODE: "In Detroit to pursue my Olympic dream"
Wednesday 16 January 2013 7 minutes reading time
The skater Valentina Marchei begins today to tell about neveitalia.it / sports its way to the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi 2014. The 4 times Italian champion is chasing with great determination the first participation in the Olympic Games, after having touched in the previous two editions Torino 2006 and Vancouver 2010. He explained to us what it means and how important it is for her to reach this milestone, speaking also com'' is his life far from home, in Detroit, where he trains and is finishing the preparation for imminent European Championships in Zagreb (21-27 January). Here's everything you told exclusively for our readers:
To pursue my dream in five circles I work and live in Detroit, United States. Prior to joining this wonderful city I lived in New York, Moscow, Latvia (in a place that is out of this world called Daugavpils) and France. Basically I shot like a top for years but now here in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, I found my base and the ideal team, which I call "jackpot", to center my goals.
The main one is that of the Olympic Games in Sochi 2014. I hope with all my heart to get there, after coming close twice'' Olympiad. In 2006 my federation felt that I was too young and has decided to send a girl to my place with the most experience (for the record today one of my sponsors). It was a huge disappointment: the Turin Olympics were my dream for years. In 2010, it was even more painful, as a result of a serious injury, I could not attend the World Championships in Los Angeles in 2009, which had the value of Olympic qualification. He was a World unfortunate for Carolina Kostner (the only athlete to represent the'' Italy) who managed to take only one place for the Games in Vancouver. I found myself watching the Olympics on television'' even if a privileged place, since I have had the pleasure to comment for RAI, thus overcoming the difficult time. That's why I have so much at heart the journey towards Sochi 2014.
My father has always polite to the sport as a life experience and in fact I learned a lot in these years of struggle to earn my place, looking for what was the right team, the discovery of skating as I wanted. Years of success but also of losses and injuries. Everything, however, strengthened me and made me a skater now very happy and proud of myself.
We have just "the top of the hill in 2012 and 2013 pre-Olympic year: between now just a few days will begin the Europeans in Zagreb. Here in America I'm finalizing the preparation, after having spent five wonderful weeks at home. Well, so to speak, because among Italian championships, international competitions and galas between Turin, Italy and Germany, I was able to sleep in my own bed only 10 days.
In Detroit are hosted at the home of my physiotherapist (a real great fortune) and I live in an area of ​​beautiful lakes. I workout buddies of 8 different nations, study physical education (the book of Anatomy at the moment is my best friend), and when they are not too busy with the'' training m'ingegno to "round up" looking for some gain doing the babysitter and the driver of small skaters. Time for real hobby there is none, so I like to collect cups of places I frequent around the world and keep all the stuffed animals that I throw in the race or in the performances. I'm also learning more and more, thanks to the advice of my mother who is a great cook, to propose a bit 'of Italian dishes, but do not think I have a strong propensity for the kitchen, although so far I have not poisoned anyone.
The'' pre workout Europeans, knock on wood, it's going very well. The goal is to continue growing in my style and technique. '' The year has started very well, are in good shape and for once I faced the'' summer without physical problems. The European could be a great step on the road to Sochi. On the ice are a workaholic and a perfectionist, but I also recognize that I continue to have fun as hell, and several times my coaches have to throw me out of the track and I end up finding myself cooked on the couch without even being able to reach the bed as far as I'm tired !
We will resend from Zagreb and I recommend you do not forget to follow the Italian team at the European Championships in two weeks! we need you and your energy!
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