Micol Di Segni: From Rome Cellar to Power Slap – A Fighter’s Journey of Resilience
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A captivating new interview reveals the extraordinary career of Micol Di Segni, an MMA athlete whose path has been defined by unwavering determination and a relentless pursuit of self-reliance. Featured as the host of the latest episode of OA Focus, di Segni shared a comprehensive look at her life, both within and beyond the confines of the ring.
Humble Beginnings and a Family Legacy
Di Segni’s introduction to athletics was deeply rooted in her family’s sporting background. “I come from a family of sportsmen,” she explained. “My mother was a national fencing champion and wanted me to play sports. She certainly didn’t expect this.” This early encouragement laid the foundation for a career that would take her from unconventional training grounds to the international stage.
Her initial training was remarkably resourceful.”I can say that I started from Claudio Pederzoli’s cellar,” di Segni recounted. “We had arranged everything for training since, not having a gym, we held the meetings there. From that moment we founded the first Gloria team which took us to the top of the world.” This scrappy start underscores the dedication and ingenuity that have characterized her journey.
International Stage and a Powerful Message
Di Segni’s career extended beyond Italy, taking her to fights in countries like the United States and Japan. She saw these opportunities as a platform for a larger message.”Fighting in those countries I think was a really good message,” she said. “I gave voice to women where their rights are frequently enough trampled upon. I also wanted to show my feminine side. I always went to the weigh-in in heels, I wanted to show myself as a woman.”
However, this period was also marked by a deteriorating relationship with her coach, a challenge that forced her to confront her own self-reliance. “An aspect that weighed heavily on me, also because in that way I no longer felt unbeatable,” she admitted. “A situation that had a huge impact and influenced my career. Conversely, however, it helped me to emancipate myself by understanding that I had to rely only on my own strength and that I had to fight for myself and not for others.”
Overcoming Adversity and Rebuilding Momentum
A challenging defeat in 2019 proved to be a pivotal moment. “A breaking point,” Di Segni described it. “The defeat in Las vegas brought with it a very hard moment. While I could have turned my career around, my life was over. My dream was gone. I no longer had anywhere to train, nothing.” Fortunately, her trainer intervened, providing the support she needed to rebuild. “He put some weights in my hands and told me to start from that point.”
Di Segni addressed concerns about her coaching during a challenging period in the United States, clarifying that her American coaches were attempting to adapt her style to fit their gym’s approach. “They wanted to impose movements on me that I knew little about,” she explained. “I was very angry that my coach wasn’t there.” Despite these setbacks,she persevered,achieving victories at Venator in 2020 and Cage Warriors in 2022.
The Mental Game and Future Endeavors
Di Segni emphasizes the crucial role of mental fortitude in MMA. “I think the head counts for 90%,” she asserted. “In my case even more so given that I was certainly not born with incredible physical gifts. For this reason I worked so hard, I put all my willpower and all the love I had for this discipline.”
Currently, Di Segni is under contract with Power Slap, a unique competition centered around competitive slapping. “I’m under contract with Power Slap, in short, slaps in the face.I have an crucial deal for now. Then we’ll see what life has in store for me.”
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