The king of the deep sea lives in San Michele, Cagliari, with beaming eyes and a clear aversion to political correctness: "I have Down syndrome, not an idiot." And that alone would be enough to define the character, who in a three-hour interview unleashes a string of rock-solid certainties capable of shattering clichés and prejudices, along with a certificate that puts down in black and white the feat he's just accomplished: Alessandro Vacca, 41, with twelve siblings before him, is the first person with Down syndrome in Sardinia to earn an official diving certification. A record that has the sweet taste of redemption from a life that hasn't exactly been kind to him.
Emotion – He says everyone at home cried – from happiness, of course – even the neighbors. Because in the Cagliari neighborhood that usually gets more bad press than good, many people know Alessandro and cheer him on. Wearing sneakers, blue Bermuda shorts, and a matching T-shirt, he settles into his armchair, takes out his badge, and proudly displays it. He certainly has no self-esteem issues. So if you ask him what it feels like to be unique, he doesn't even need to think about it: "I've become famous all over the world." Then he retracts: "Maybe I will become famous after the article. Are you really going to publish it in the newspaper?" And between hugs, he tells his story, which ultimately isn't all that different from that of any other able-bodied person. Made up of challenges, failures, friendships, and love. Lots of it. "When I was little, I was teased, especially at school. Sometimes a teacher even excluded me, sending me out for a sandwich." Painful memories, which for a moment darken her face and testify to a past where diversity was still seen as something to be relegated to a corner, almost as if it were being kept hidden. "Fortunately, things have changed: there are fewer prejudices now, and I want my story to serve to demonstrate that even with Down syndrome, I can do anything."
The two worlds – And in that whole, nothing is missing. There are the tanks, the wetsuit, and a great deal of determination, which after five months of diving allowed him to earn his long-awaited certification. As if, amidst the transparent depths of his soul, he had broken down one of those limitations of those who persist in seeing only the difficulties and not the extraordinary potential of Alessandro and so many other young people with disabilities. Who, like him, step by step, have managed to integrate seamlessly into society. "There's room for everyone in the world and a comfortable place for each of us."
