"Things don't always go as you imagined, even when you work toward a goal every day." Narbolia setter Alessia Orro, a key figure in Julio Velasco's women's European Championship campaign, vented on social media after the final loss to Turkey in Istanbul. It was a close match that went to the tiebreaker, with the home team prevailing 3-2 and claiming the continental title.
Orro reflects both on the disappointment of missing out on gold and the recognition of the value of the silver medal. "And here we are…," he writes, "A long, intense, different summer. Made of changes, sacrifices, beautiful moments and more complicated ones… Because things don't always go the way you imagined, even when you work every day toward a goal. And perhaps that's where you learn the most. This summer reminded me that satisfaction isn't just what you see or wear around your neck. Sometimes it's more quiet, personal, but no less important. Yesterday we closed this adventure with a silver medal. When you get to the end, you always want the gold, of course, but you also have to learn to recognize the value of what you achieve."
The European silver medal puts aside the dream of a historic hat-trick of victories, after victories at the Olympics and the World Championships. But, Orro continues, "I carry with me a group that shared everything, on and off the court, and the support of those who supported us until the very end. Because in the end, we can't control everything that happens to us, but we can choose how to deal with it and what to take away from each experience. And perhaps this is precisely what growth means: continuing to demand so much from ourselves, without forgetting every now and then to acknowledge what we've accomplished, the journey we've made, and the people we've shared it with. Another Italian summer ends here. With a medal, so many lessons, and even more desire to grow."
(Unioneonline/D)