Speed Skating
Francesco A. Armillotta
Landed in Sochi for a few hours, the patrol Italian speed skating is conspicuous. The blues at the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics will be six. A good number of skaters on long track, the way to eight different individual events. A result that at the end of last season could be considered difficult to achieve. Possibility of blue in the Games so we have spoken with Giorgio Baroni, one of the two engineers, with Stefano Donagrandi, at the helm of the team.
Tuesday 4 February 2014 19 minutes reading time
The current combination is in charge after three years of leadership entrusted to the Dutch Gianni Romme, finding himself at the decisive test a few months after the last five circles. During this period, the two engineers have worked at par and in total synergy. Work that helped the young Italian team to present a greater number of skaters (six compared to five in 2010) in Russia.
One team, one Italian, affecting the low average age that stops just 23 years old. All rookies, except for Matteo Anesi (qualifier for 1000m), this non-stop since the historic expedition of Torino 2006. Waiting to see the blues at work on the ice at the Adler Arena, from Saturday, February 8th (with the inaugural race of the men's 5000m), we asked Baroni to retrace the path of the torch, testing the hopes and motivations blue. The coach Trent, the fourth Olympics as manager spoke exclusively to Neveitalia shortly before his departure for Russia. The colleague Donagrandi is instead the second experience with five wheels on the track (it was in the historic trio of gold in the team pursuit 2006).
The common denominator of the Italian team, however, seems to be to compete with the first experience. Mirko Nenzi (in race and in the 500-1,000 1500m), David Bosa (500), Andrea Giovannini (5000) and the two women Yvonne Daldossi (500) and Francesca Lollobrigida (3000) saggeranno for the first time the Olympic spirit. Difficult to expect the results of the first order by the blue, as well as confirmation Baroni. Sochi is part of a path that will lead the group to the maximum in 2018. But of course, the Italians do not want to be considered mere actors. Especially Nenzi, fresh from performances in line with the best, is to be included in the struggle to become an outsider luxury. The Venetian is recovering from a second place in the World Cup, Universiade gold and a third place in the World Cup Sprint last month. Dreaming something important in Sochi does not seem heresy.
Unique and big sore point, the failure to qualify for the chase team. For the first time since the introduction of competition in the Olympic program, Italy will not have a threesome on the ice. Baroni explains why.
Five out of six rookies qualified for Italy's long track in Sochi. An unexpected result until a few months ago?
"We have a young team than in the past. For us - says Giorgio Baroni - the satisfaction of having qualified with so many great athletes. The team with which we began the preparation on the basis of Sochi has involved thirteen athletes in total. If there are six qualified for the Olympics: a good result. Unfortunately there is very sorry for the three skaters who went close to the qualification, which remained on the list of reserves without being fished out. When they entered they, too, would have been really a coup for the team. " (Among those who missed the Olympic pass, there are Bettrone in the 1500 Francesca and Paola Simionato in the 500 and Jan Daldossi in 1000 remained in Italy. They can be added to Francesca Lollobrigida out for a few cents from 5000, although in the race in the 3000 Olympics, ed.)
According to you what these failures are due qualifications?
"The absent are left out as a matter of cents. Also because the conditions groped for the assault at the time were hard limit. Almost everything has been decided at the beginning of the World Cup, in North America. Among the crucial stages of Calgary and Salt Lake there were a few days in which to give everything. The preparation must be very good to play their possibilities. It can be said that perhaps it was even easier to stay excluded. "
What emerges, however, is that the Olympic team will have an average age really low.
"Yes, and that is why we consider Sochi a launching pad for the future of the sport. We do not expect "the impossible" from our own. Obviously, however, a point on which we rely in the speed events: Mirko Nenzi. This year has already gone on the podium of the World Cup and is the only blue that has won the first group of about. You inserted multiple times in the top 10 and then the leap was made by Mirko. In him we place expectations thanks to his experience, combined with the growth and awareness of mental and physical ... Who knows, they could be here in Sochi races where everything turns to perfection. We look at him with great optimism, thinking that, on paper, he could be our name from the medal. "
Regarding the possibility of the other guys?
"For them, we maintain a degree of optimism. Although I like to emphasize the fact that their participation can be said that already looks like a coin. If it is more, we will accept gladly. The important thing is that they are ready to give their best. Humility is a characteristic of the blue. Then, each race has its own story: we have often seen that some athletes, maybe just quoted the day before, were to surprise positively. "
Five rookies and one veteran Matteo Anesi ...
"It's really pleasure her presence. A "veteran", let's call it, which can crown a great career by entering a new Olympiad in his wealth of experience. We do not expect that emulates what he could do in Turin 2006, but we remain optimistic for his performance. "
Have also increased the female quotas of this National. For the second time in the history of speed skating, there will be two blue at the start of the Games: the women begin to appear regularly at the highest level?
"The first time, in Salt Lake City we already had two Italian (Paola and Nicola Simionato Mayr, ed.) Unfortunately, over the years there have been unexpected for the Mayr and did not participate in the qualifiers. But after 12 years back two Italian and we are happy. Even if competing for completely different distances (Yvonne Daldossi in the 500 and Francesca Lollobrigida in 3000, editor's note), we are convinced and confident that they will say theirs. Remains of regret for the two athletes who have missed the time limit would have been a historic achievement for the "quotas". "
The Olympic formula, unlike the World Cup, and is more "spread" over time (individual races start and end on February 8, 19). It could encourage the boys?
"Surely it can promote them on a physical level. However, as a counter, the fact remains that many of them lack experience. It will be still the biggest sporting event they have ever attended! And not everyone might react emotionally in the same way before the pressure of the Olympics. Of course, it is hoped that they remain calm, but in these cases you can never be sure. The emotional component was affected, for example, in my experience with Chiara Simionato in Turin 2006. In theory it was an athlete medal, but things did not work as they should. "
A few hours after, the tension is palpable?
"He perceives in them. But it is inevitable both for experts and for the novices. We can stand and we will have to live with. You can not do otherwise. "
The approach to Sochi has gone according to plan, or were there any problems? Even during the week of the pre-Olympic training in Inzell, Germany?
"So far everything went well. No hitch or accident that has undermined the preparation. Then, in these cases it is always better to have a lot of attention and even a little 'luck. The trip to Germany was still positive: return on an indoor track gave us a good feeling. And this has also affected their confidence. "
A serious negative note, however, there is: for the first time in Olympic history, Italy will not chase men. Out well as the Team Pursuit female ...
"It was unexpected, because we counted on pursuits and we worked very much. But I do not regret anything, because the average time qualifying was very high. To this I say that we have not wrong, but unfortunately the lack of qualification of the two teams was due to the high competitiveness, perhaps unexpected, teams competing. This is demonstrated by the fact that he recorded the second fastest time ever chase the male, in Calgary. Women, however, have lowered twice the Italian record. It was not enough. So I think we can not blame ourselves very much. For males only say one thing: to be in Sochi, we would have to beat the historical record of Fabris, Luca Stefani Sanfratello and dated 2009. And this year there have gone away: it is not enough just to "blame" for the strong competition of other nations. "
How will the Ice Arena at the Adler Sochi?
"Last year, at the World Single Distance on, we had the opportunity to test the ice with some of our athletes (including Anesi and Nenzi, the only ones present also in the Games 2014 ed.) The news coming from the environment, in any case, we were made to understand in broad terms about what kind of ice you are going to compete. Definitely do not think we'll see many Olympic or world records, though not very fast. But suffice to achieve high performance timekeeping. Of course, the temperature of the Arena will not be very cold, but we are okay because we are used to train outdoors and cold (laughs). "
Since last spring, there was a reorganization of the technical sector, following the departure of Gianni Romme, she and Stephen Donagrandi federal technicians are equal, following all members of the National Assembly, without having separate groups of speed and bottom . We can say that it was a right choice?
"This year was a choice made in accordance with the Federation to put together energies and experiences with Stephen Donagrandi, follow the same extent the two sectors. In this sense, we believe we have built the project well. We are at the beginning, in the middle of the launch pad, but I think the solution has been positive. For example, the fact of joining the team for the Games of 2006 was far more positive. Four years earlier, with the same technicians, the program has seen me follow the speed and Maurizio Marchetto to work with cross-country skiers: the Olympics and have not given the expected results. Repeat the choice even in 2013 has borne fruit: and I believe that we could not bring in Sochi such a good number of skaters, especially young people. "
So the first year of synergy Baroni-Donagrandi was positive?
"Of course, since we started almost from scratch. Not to speak ill of what was and the work of others, I believe that today's results give us reason. For the rest, the fact remains that the first year's work has also brought with errors. Errors that, thanks to the experience gained, we will ensure that next season will not be repeated. "
The project requires to appear in the near future: in four years we will have more athletes with greater ambitions?
"We focus very much at the Olympics 2018, to become protagonists. The average age at which they become competitive is higher than that of our team. Today, a long-track skater in the top is between 26 to 30 years. Once, after an athlete was considered the 25 already on the wane. But the training is completed right after that age. And we own technical work according to it. "
But for Sochi, what hope can we expect for the Italian colors?
"Our guys are already aware and assured of all that they did to be there. They mind their path to qualify for the Olympics and they know what is their value. And it is no doubt a high level. Whatever happens, they already know that will compete with players on the ice. "
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