TRENTO. Something has changed in Paris. Not just the personal medal collection of Nadia Battoclettibut something more: his lucidity, his maturity, his awareness of his own potential and that he deserves to be there, among the greatest in the world. Something equally important, however, has remained the same: Nadia. And it is that simplicity, that spontaneity, that always remaining oneself even under the spotlight that pushed so many people to fill yesterday, Friday 11 October, at the Philharmonic for the meeting between Nadia Battocletti and Gabriella Doriogold in the 1,500 meters at the Los Angeles 84 Olympic Games.
In the dialogue on stage with the Gazzetta journalist Andrea Buongiovanni, technique, sports reporting but, above all, emotions.
Like the tears of Gabriella Dorio, shed first at Los Angeles 84, more recently in Paris and yesterday at the Festival in retracing with Nadia Battocletti the path that led her to become a champion: from the races among rookies to Cles when – she explained Dorio – Nadia was already running strong naturally; then the national under 18 and under 20, growth in body and mind, “because there must be harmony between head, legs and heart”. A maturation “with the good fortune – added Dorio – of having a very good father/coach, even if many said it wouldn’t work. Nadia and her father grew up together and we have seen the fruits of it.”
We saw it all: double gold – 5,000 and 10,000 meters – at the European Championships in Rome, the first Italian woman to win two golds in the same edition, and a double national record in both races. And then, naturally, after fourth place in the 5,000m, savoring the bronze which then faded away, the silver in the 10,000m at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, improving the Italian record. That was the turning point, and Nadia recounted those moments at the Festival. “At the last kilometer I still felt good, clear-headed, ready to attack like a hawk, and with 600 meters to go I thought maybe I could get a medal. I gave it my all and in the last 100 meters I went full throttle.”
Gabriella Dorio was also following her from the gallery. “While she was running – she said – I looked at her face and realized that Nadia was determined. There I started to cry. If only there had been 20 meters more…”
But Gabriella Dorio shed many tears – “I cry easily” she explained – in Los Angeles too. First for the mistakes made in the 800m and then for the gold in the 1,500m. To remember the medal, Gabriella’s name engraved on a metal plate at the entrance to the Coliseum. Too exciting to find it in front of you. “I would go back to that stadium – said Dorio – just to see Nadia.”
Yes, because a thousand commitments aside, our gaze turns to the next Olympics. From here to Los Angeles 2028 there are countless training sessions and competitions but, in between, there is also private life: the friendship of the fellow villagers in Cavareno, the scents of the town, the warmth of the students of the University of Trento. And then, certainly not least, the family: father Giuliano and mother Jawhara, always close.
Alongside the emotions, there was also a lot of sympathy on stage, with the representative of the Fans Club and Nadia’s South American ballet with her roommate in Trento.
But there were also “solemn” moments: the opening with the organ music of the maestro Stefano Rattini accompanied by the images of the exploits of the two champions, and then the Olympic medals of Los Angeles and Paris nearby, one next to the other , like Nadia and Gabriella.
(photo Pat / Martina Massetti)