Lorenzo Patta, are you warming up the engines?
"Absolutely yes".
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The Olympic champion is ready to restart. But he doesn't raise his tone, he keeps his feet on the ground: injuries have affected a season that didn't live up to expectations and he hopes that his 2023 will be better.
From where and when will its race start again?
«Unfortunately I don't know exactly yet, I hope soon because I really want to start this season».
Which specialty will you favor this year?
"It's too early to tell. I had a couple of injuries at the start of preparation that made me miss a few workouts in view of the 200m. I'll most likely start with the 100m and then we'll see if my condition is good enough to do some good 200m».
From his entourage they guarantee that he is training hard. In which plants?
"Real. Finally the telenovela of the Oristano track is over and I've been training here for a few months now. They did a good job and it is pleasant to train on this track».
What is the 2023 goal?
«The main objective that I have set for myself, like every year, is certainly to improve in terms of time both in the 100m and 200m, then I hope for a call-up to the World Championships in Budapest. We will see".
Do you feel fit to be able to do it?
«At the moment, after a couple of months of total darkness due to an ankle injury, I feel really good, I feel fit both physically and above all mentally. Training is going well, I hope to have a good season».
Did you expect more from the last season?
"Absolutely yes. I don't feel like I did well, I was quite disappointed with my season. Although they didn't go very well, I'm still happy to have participated in the European Championships in Monaco and the World Cup in Eugene: they are experiences that teach us so much all the same».
How much did the Olympic medal change your life?
“Not particularly and I'm glad that's the case. I'm the same person as before, I train on the same track as before with the same coach, Francesco Garau: it's still wonderful to be stopped on the street to have a chat or for a photo. It's something I really like."
It is known that she is engaged and that she attends a historic group of friends. In short, he lives like an athlete. How long has it been since you went to the disco?
«No longer engaged for a while now. Let's say that it's something that I've never been interested in going to the disco, it's not a place I like to frequent. I prefer to be with my friends and have a quiet chat».
Do you think you have taken the right path to stay at certain levels?
«I really think so. I'm convinced that, to stay at high levels, you have to start first of all from yourself, from your head, from the commitment you put into training. Then I blindly trust my coach: I am convinced that together we can still do good things».
You compete for the Fiamme Gialle, a historical symbol of athletics.
"Absolutely yes. For me it can only be an honor to compete for the Fiamme Gialle and I am delighted to be part of this group which has welcomed me very well from the beginning. I thank them very much for everything they do for me and it is also thanks to them that I have managed to achieve these results».
Do you still train with Tortu from time to time?
«I'll see you with Filippo at the rallies, we'll have one soon. I'm really happy to see both him and all the other guys again."
And how do you read Jacobs' second place in the 60 meters for the Italians?
«I'm sure his main objective remains the indoor European Championships in Istanbul. Maybe he's not fully fit yet, also because he's done relatively few races anyway. I'm sure he will entertain us at the European Championships. Both him and Samuele Ceccarelli, and I'm really happy for him: we've made many national youth teams together, I've known him for a long time».
As a former footballer, are you satisfied with the season of Roma, your team?
«One cannot but be happy with this momentary place in the Champions League area. We are still in the Europa League, the only regret remains the Coppa Italia, which was really a chance to win a trophy this year. Sin".
And will Cagliari return to Serie A?
"I hope so. It's not Serie A without Cagliari. When I can, I follow the rossoblù very willingly. Especially now that mister Ranieri is here. They're in the playoff zone, they can do it."
Going back to the track, among the Sardinian male and female athletes who, in your opinion, has the widest margins for growth?
"There are many. Definitely Dalia Kaddari and Wanderson Polanco in the first place: they are already very strong, but who, like me, can still improve a lot. Then there is a very young boy, Diego Nappi who is 16 years old, but who is doing so very well and can become very good».
You mentioned Polanco and Kaddari, also Sardinians: is this an unrepeatable historical period for our athletics?
"But that I don't know. There have been many very good periods for Sardinian athletics, I am thinking of the years in which the various Giorgio Marras, Sandro Floris, Valentina Uccheddu, Anna Rita Angotzi competed. We are doing very well and I hope the Sardinians are proud of us».
What does wearing the blue shirt mean to you?
«For me, but I think for every Italian sportsman, wearing the blue shirt is everything. It's what a child dreams of when he starts playing sports. Competing and fighting for your nation is priceless, it gives you an extra stimulus».
The next Olympics are still on the horizon. But every now and then, at least a few nights, do you dream of confirming gold?
“We all know it will be very difficult. As we saw at the last World Cup, the other teams are very aggressive. We'll see what happens. We will obviously do our best to try and do something fantastic again».