L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 26 L'Italo-Americano M a r t a M a g g e t t i i n t h e O l y m p i a d e W o m e n ' s a n d Men's event. "Out of ten gold m e d a l s w o n b y I t a l y , t w o were brought home by sailing — an incredible result that f i l l s u s w i t h p r i d e , " s a i d Marchesini. In addition to the gold medals, the Italian team achieved high rankings, with a fourth place, two fifth places, and a sixth place, con- firming an extremely high competitive level. "Despite the challenges of traveling outside Europe, as we have already experienced in Tokyo and Brazil, we feel ready to face the challenges of Los Angeles with the right deter- m i n a t i o n , " c o m m e n t e d Ettorre. "One of the most surpris- ing aspects of recent years has been the boom in sailing among young people, espe- cially after the pandemic. All outdoor sports have seen a major rebound, and sailing was no exception. The num- ber of registered sailors con- tinues to grow, and the pas- s i o n f o r t h i s s p o r t h a s solidified even after the end of restrictions," explained Luca De Pedrini. The Fed- eration has promoted educa- tional projects such as Vela a tional podiums. The visit to Los Angeles represents a key moment for the logistical and technical planning ahead of t h e 2 0 2 8 G a m e s . " O u r sport has very specific logisti- cal needs," explained Miche- le Marchesini. "With large equipment like boats and support vessels, this is a 'day zero' for managing our team on-site in Los Angeles. From here, we will begin to orga- nize increasingly frequent and structured training trips to familiarize ourselves with the race area and local condi- tions." T h e m a i n u n k n o w n remains the selection of the regatta venue, which is still under evaluation, between L o n g B e a c h a n d S a n Pedro. "We are waiting for the decision of the organizing committee," added Marchesi- ni, "and only then will we be able to start a specific study of the wind and currents to optimize our preparation." The Italian team arrived in Los Angeles with a recent past full of successes. At the P a r i s - M a r s e i l l e 2 0 2 4 Olympics, Italy won two gold medals in sailing, thanks t o e x t r a o r d i n a r y p e r f o r - m a n c e s s u c h a s t h a t o f Scuola (Sailing at School), w h i c h h a s i n v o l v e d o v e r 55,000 students in free sail- ing activities, demonstrating t h a t s a i l i n g c a n b e b o t h accessible and educational, far from the élite image often associated with maxi-yachts. "The message for young peo- ple is to try it because sailing is not just competition but also personal growth and respect for the environment," added De Pedrini. The evolution of sailors' athletic preparation in recent years has led to meticulous attention to every aspect of p e r f o r m a n c e . " M o d e r n sailors don't just train on the w a t e r , " e m p h a s i z e d D e Pedrini. "They also undergo intensive physical training on land, with specific programs for each discipline and con- tinuous monitoring of their nutrition, recovery, and psy- chological well-being." The balance between physical strength and technical con- trol is crucial, especially in disciplines such as windsurf- ing and kiteboarding, where physique can vary signifi- cantly. But beyond athletic performance, the real chal- lenge is to maintain a consis- tent level of excellence and focus throughout the journey to the 2028 Olympics. One of the keys to the suc- cess of the Italian Sailing Federation is its ability to invest in continuity. "Our athletes are young and have already demonstrated great potential. The hope is that the same champions from P a r i s w i l l q u a l i f y f o r L o s Angeles, continuing the work done so far," said Marchesini. The final selections for the Games will take place only in the months leading up to the event, but the commitment to building a winning team has already begun. "Each sailing class has specific qual- ification criteria, and the s e l e c t i o n o f a t h l e t e s w i l l result from a rigorous and meticulous process," Ettorre concluded. "The goal is clear: not just to confirm our place, but to surpass it, demonstrat- ing once again that Italian sailing is ready to dominate the waves of the Pacific just a s i t h a s i n t h e M e d i t e r - ranean." team composed of technical director Michele Marche- sini, performance manager L u c a D e P e d r i n i , a n d team and logistics manager G u g l i e l m o V a t t e r o n i . "These past four years have been fantastic for the Italian Sailing Federation: we won 81 medals at the continental and world levels in 2022, increasing to 108 in 2024. Our focus is already on the future with investments and promotion. Maintaining suc- cess is always challenging, but the level we have reached is high, and we will aim at least to sustain it, strength- ened by the quality of our athletes and the clubs that support them," Ettorre told L'Italo-Americano. F o r o v e r 8 0 y e a r s , t h e Italian Sailing Federa- tion has placed at the center of its mission the promotion of a love for the sea, educa- tion, and the dissemination of sailing and nautical cul- ture. This constant commit- ment has led to the develop- ment of a strong movement capable of achieving excel- lent results and building a network of athletes and clubs that work in synergy to bring the Italian flag to interna- F or the first time, Italy was one of the twelve teams participating in the Sail Grand Prix, the regatta held at the Port of Los Angeles in S a n P e d r o . The helm of Red Bull Italy was entrust- ed to Ruggero Tita, a two- time Olympic gold medalist (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024) and part of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team in the America's Cup, who secured a respectable seventh place. On this occasion, the entire Italian Olympic sailing team traveled to California for an initial scouting visit in prepa- r a t i o n f o r t h e 2 0 2 8 Olympics. It was a crucial o p p o r t u n i t y n o t o n l y t o familiarize themselves with the Californian waters but also to strengthen an interna- t i o n a l p r e s e n c e t h a t i s becoming increasingly signif- icant. "As President of the Little I t a l y A s s o c i a t i o n o f L o s Angeles, it was an honor to meet the Italian national sail- i n g t e a m d u r i n g S a i l G P , " commented Mario Amalfi- tano, president of the Little Italy Association of Los Angeles, who welcomed the Olympic team to San Pedro. "This city has a proud and deeply rooted Italian com- munity, with generations of families who built their lega- cy through the local fishing industry. A passion for the sea runs in our blood, mak- ing this partnership particu- larly meaningful." "Seeing an Italian team compete for the first time in S a i l G P a t S a n P e d r o i s a moment of great pride," stat- ed Anna Manunza, Ambas- sador for Cultural Affairs, who played a key role in facil- itating this important con- nection. "I am thrilled to see my beloved homeland repre- sented on this global stage, showing Italy's talent and passion for sailing." Leading the delegation to Los Angeles was Francesco Ettorre, President of the Italian Sailing Federation, accompanied by a strategic From left, Luca Pedrini, performance manager, Michele Marchesini, technical director, Francesco Ettorre, president of the Federazione Italiana Vela, Anna Manunza, ambassador for cultural affairs at Lilaa, and Guglielmo Vatteroni, team and logistics manager (Photo courtesy of Mario Amalfitano, president of Lilaa) The Renaissance of Italian sailing: the olympic team visits Los Angeles SILVIA NITTOLI LOS ANGELES ITALIAN COMMUNITY

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