Tokyo Olympic Test Event 2019
At the conclusion of my role as Olympic Performance Director of the Federazione Italiana Triathlon, I wanted to share a few reflections of the past four years since I took up the role in 2017. Like for many working in Olympic sport, my role was aligned to the four year Olympic cycle. As my contract came to a conclusion, with deep reflection during the pandemic, and the postponement of Tokyo 2020 Games, I evaluated my coaching looking forward with an open mind, without being held back by constraints and arbitrary time frames, as I have done a number of other times during my career over the past 20 years. I considered my personal values, that I am driven by the people, relationships and environment where I chose to work, and have high standards for where I put my time and energy. It was clear a new direction and fresh challenge was the right step for me and my family to move forward with renewed energy.
The Italian National Team and Olympic Program has made the challenging first steps to creating the conditions to reach the potential of the Italian athletes, coaches and staff involved. The change process is never easy and raising the standards and expectations of performance has meant that some could join this step forward and some could not, however this is a natural part of high performance. These changes were supported not only through increasing performance standards, but allowing the athletes and coaches the space to grow and take ownership of their careers, and of their own processes and choices. In addition investments were made in new staff and health support, and the establishment of a model of working based on providing support connected to the objective performances achieved, while also investing for the future in daily environments where the next performances will be developed.
At the beginning of the Tokyo Olympic cycle, it was clear FITRI needed to make significant changes in order to achieve performances commensurate with the investments made into its programs. While resistance was faced to change the way FITRI operated from the long held deeply entrenched status-quo, the performances achieved by the Italian Team in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympic Games speak for themselves. With the Italian women ranked as the 3rd country in the Olympic Ranking list as of December 2020, one of only three countries with a full quota of 3 women, behind only Great Britain and the USA, a podium performance at the individual Olympic Test event and a 4th place in the Olympic Test Event Mixed Team Relay, followed by three women in the top 11 of the 2019 Grand Final in Lausanne, and many other performance highlights including both Junior and U23 World Championship Medallists.
While there is much work to continue to do on the path towards the Italian Team achieving its ultimate sporting potential both on the field of play and off, great strides have been made in these four years, with the groundwork for the attitude changes, process changes, and background way of working to support Italian athletes achieving the highest levels on the World and Olympic stages. The opportunity is now to keep moving forward towards higher standards, higher expectations and being better every day in every part of the organisation must be taken at this critical juncture, before the eventual Tokyo 2021 and into the Paris 2024 Olympic Cycle.
While it was time for me personally to make a change at the end of this 4 year cycle, I am fully confident that Alessandro Bottoni possesses all the qualities to continue the project we started together towards Tokyo 2021 and beyond. Over these years I have shared the process and philosophy with Alessandro at every step, and I know he will find the best solutions to support the athletes to great performances. President Luigi Bianchi, along with Alessandro had the courage to initiate such a significant change and new approach for the Italian Team and we have seen very positive steps, and everything that is required to keep moving forward is within Alessandro and all the staff involved to create a strong future for Italian Triathlon. I want to thank President Luigi Bianchi, Secretary General Ivan Braido, and Manager of the Area Tecnica Gabriella Lorenzi, and all the staff for the unwavering support during my time with FITRI and I wish all the most success for the future in 2021 and beyond.
Grazie millie, e in bocca al lupo a tutti!