Tell us briefly about your background and your current work:

I’ve been practicing rhythmic gymnastics since I was five years old. My journey hasn’t been easy. As a child, I was physically gifted, but I was terrible in competitions because I would forget my routines and finish last. I only started reaching the national podiums at the age of 13 (which in our sport is already quite late). At that age, I moved to a better club in Fabriano (without my parents), and from there came my first national team call-ups. Little by little, I improved and kept reaching higher levels (we train every day for eight hours). In September, I want to start university. I’m about to participate in my second Olympics. However, nothing has ever been handed to me; I’ve always had to work hard for everything, sometimes even against everyone (because there are people who don’t want to see me at the top). But I am proud when I step onto the mat and express myself in every routine, and I can’t wait to go to Paris.

Why did you choose to stay in Italy?

I chose to stay here for many reasons. Undoubtedly, the biggest reason is the sense of belonging to the tricolor flag and representing my country around the world in competitions. Singing the national anthem is an incomparable emotion. Also, I love the climate here. The fact that we experience all the seasons differently is significant (for example, my sister lives in Miami, and it’s always summer there. After a couple of months, you get tired of the constant heat). This variety helps us adapt to different situations, especially in view of competitions, because humidity affects us greatly, causing the ribbon and ball to slip.

What are your predictions for the future of rhythmic gymnastics in Italy? 

I hope that in the coming years, rhythmic gymnastics gains much more visibility than it currently has. It’s a sport that requires a lot of sacrifice, consistency, and commitment, yet it remains one of the minor sports. I hope the movement among the younger generation grows significantly, and that the current staff renews a bit to make room for fresher, more current, and undoubtedly different ideas. If nothing changes, the sport will likely remain stagnant and experience minimal growth when it could be much more exponential and gain greater visibility.

What are the biggest obstacles and satisfactions you face working in this country?

Certainly, in some cities, there needs to be a broader culture of sports. Nowadays, children and teenagers spend more time on their phones when they should be playing sports, both for physical growth and personal development through relationships and feeling good about themselves. So, improving sports facilities and activities is essential. Also, in schools, I had to change schools because the teachers were “old-fashioned.” They said, “You should only study. You can’t spend the whole afternoon doing gymnastics. Give up this sport.” I’d love to meet them again and show them all the medals and the satisfaction that gymnastics has given me, but most importantly, all the life lessons this sport has taught me. I’ve considered it a job since I was 15, and now it truly is since I’m part of the military aeronautics team. So, did I do well by not listening to those teachers? Yes, I’d say I did!