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Rowing is one of the Olympic sports with a greater
tradition. From the programme for the Games, in order to
contain its growth and make room for the lightweight
categories, have been excluded some classes that for
various reasons continue to be present in the world
championships as ‘non Olympic classes. Do you think it’s
right to continue to keep them alive or should they be
cancelled definitively?
They should be very much be kept alive as they are
indispensable breeding grounds for the Olympic classes. In
this way those who are for the time being unable to be part
of an Olympic crew can work in close contact with those who
have been lucky enough to be on that team, fighting for a
place on that boat every time they go out on the water. In
some Worlds we have seen cases where the lanes were almost
all empty because the event took place in a faraway country,
whilst other times, especially when these events take place
in Europe, the lanes in non Olympic regattas are full and it
is sometimes necessary to run heats. This year in Monaco we
shall certainly have full lanes, this is why I think these
classes ought to be kept up.
- What criterion do you adopt for the putting together of
boats’ crews that will take part in the non Olympic events
at the World Championships?
At Piediluco everyone goes out on Olympic boats and I
shall take one or more boats for each speciality to the
Worlds. I need to do this in order to motivate the athletes,
and so have men who push hard in order to stay on the
Olympic boats. However, after the Worlds, only one group of
men will stay on the Olympic boat whilst the other will go
on the non Olympic boat. In this way I will have men who are
highly fit and capable of being competitive on whatever
boat.
- How is, instead, the preparation of the Olympic group
proceeding?
In the lightweights there is the doubles that’s going
strong, I have put together several fours without coxswain
and there’s lots of competition between them so that we are
working well in this category. For the top level seniors
things are slightly different as I can count on an eight but
I’ve yet to put together the coxless pair and the four
without and it’s here that I’m short of men. I have started
work, entrusting myself to young athletes and I shall soon
be deciding whether to continue like this or change course
in some way. In the senior sculls, instead, I can count on a
quadruple sculls that can indeed be improved, and on a
double that can become competitive. I would also like to try
to qualify a single sculls and I will thus be looking for a
man who can allow me to reach this objective in the coming
months
- Is the team aware that it has to work for the
qualification to the Olympics and that therefore, if
necessary, they may have to sacrifice other results in order
to reach this objective?
They know that. We have to achieve qualification in
several boats so as to have more athletes motivated at the
idea of taking part in the Games and be determined to search
for a way to win as many medals as possible. So, if in order
to qualify I am forced to renounce some results that would
otherwise be certain then I shall make that choice. It’s
still premature but one cannot exclude an eventuality of
this type. Whatever the decision, I shall of course share it
with the Federation’s leaders.
- During the gatherings the eight that is the world’s
vice-champion has always remained more or less the same.
Should one interpret this as the will to keep the same team
in view of the Monaco Worlds or will it be that everyone
will get a chance?
Everyone will be given the opportunity of getting on
the eight. My objective is to do better in all specialities.
I am starting with the boats that took part in the 2006
Worlds, which are firm points of reference, but I do not
exclude that, should I see the need, these might not be
modified and that therefore everything and everyone is still
in play.
- The return to the team, of athletes who had given up
competitive rowing, can that contribute to the putting
together of a competitive quadruple sculls and a double?
If you’re referring to Galtarossa I immediately say
yes. I hope to be able to use him to the best of his ability
very soon as I believe Rossano has the necessary qualities
to still be a protagonist in another Olympic Games and can
contribute a great deal to the group both for his experience
and for the fact that he earned it in Olympic qualifications
and competitions.
- What’s the minimum objective to be reached with the
women’s team during the qualifying Worlds and with which
crews?
The women’s lightweight double can succeed in the
enterprise whilst for the other boats I still need to have
results that I am sure will punctually arrive. A lot depends
on them and, above all, their state of health and their will
to improve. At the next gatherings I hope to be able to get
some anticipations on these results.
- In Italy, in all sectors, there are complaints about a
shortage of money. You’re preparing the qualification year
and therefore the Olympic year, are you relaxed about the
situation? And, if yes, how are things going?
We are working serenely in full harmony with the
Federation’s leaders and I therefore believe this will be an
ongoing trend in full respect of the operational programme
approved and therefore with the certainty of getting to
Beijing with all that’s needed.
- You have been through a number of qualification years
with excellent results and others a little less amazing. Can
you tell us how the athletes in the Olympic group are making
ready for the qualifications?
My programme foresees a steady increase in the
workloads, to which the group is adapting constantly. I’m
sure that I shall be able to take a well prepared, motivated
team to the worlds, a team capable of aiming for the
qualification of as many boats as possible.
- Do you think it’s possible to do a repeat performance
and make it with as many boats as qualified at the Milan
Worlds in 2003?
If I remember correctly, Italy managed to qualify
seven boats for Athens and so our objective is to qualify as
many, trying to add to it with some additional women’s
boats. We shall see if this is possible.
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to be continued |