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In fact, I started shooting with an air pistol as<br />
well! Nevertheless, in few weeks I realized –<br />
luckily! – that rifle shooting was my favorite.<br />
Did somebody inspire you during your first<br />
years as a shooter?<br />
American shooter Matthew Emmons has always<br />
been my role model. Not only because<br />
he is one of the best rifle-shooters ever, but I<br />
specially admire his behavior. It is easy to be<br />
nice and friendly when you win, but I believe<br />
the way we handle adversity is by far the most<br />
important. Emmons was able to smile in situations<br />
where others would have been shocked or<br />
desperate. In this last Olympic cycle he survived<br />
cancer and, in spite of everything, he won his<br />
third Olympic medal. Matthew never gave up.<br />
He is not just an inspiration for young shooters<br />
but a true ambassador of the Olympic values.<br />
You started off as a kid, when did you realize<br />
that this sport was going to become something<br />
important in your life?<br />
My parents have always supported me, they<br />
believe that, this sport especially, represents<br />
a great opportunity for me to grow up and<br />
mature. Many of my friends, on the contrary,<br />
have always watched what I was doing with<br />
curiosity and surprise. Sometimes it is hard<br />
to make people understand that we use rifles<br />
and pistols as sport equipment, we are not<br />
dangerous! When I won my fist international<br />
medal at the junior European Championships<br />
in 2003 I realized that maybe I could achieve<br />
something with shooting. I still have fun when<br />
I shoot, even under pressure. When this sport<br />
becomes more similar to a “serious” job, it will<br />
be time for me to move on and to do something<br />
different.<br />
How difficult is it to be a professional athlete<br />
and to finance your passion?<br />
I am lucky. I am part of the military sport<br />
group ‘Fiamme Gialle’. With their support I get<br />
a paycheck for doing what I love: practicing<br />
shooting.<br />
Sometimes it is hard to make<br />
people understand that<br />
we use rifles and pistols as<br />
sport equipment, we are not<br />
dangerous!<br />
You said: ‘Shooting: once you try it, you get<br />
addicted’. What’s so special about this sport?<br />
Shooting is amazing! The best part is that<br />
you compete against yourself. Sometimes<br />
you are your best supporter, other times you<br />
are your worst enemy. You have to deal with<br />
your deepest thoughts and emotions. It is a<br />
great way to learn about yourself, accept your<br />
weakness and improve your strengths.<br />
You’ve been travelling to the US to study<br />
and to train. Can you tell us what impressed<br />
you the most there, sport-wise?<br />
I was really impressed by the strong link<br />
between education and sports. Thanks to<br />
shooting I received a full scholarship in order<br />
to complete my studies in engineering at the<br />
West Virginia University. In the USA, unlike<br />
Italy or many other European countries,<br />
sports are not seen just as a ‘distraction’ from<br />
school. On the contrary, sports add value to<br />
the student-athlete, something that opens up<br />
great opportunities.<br />
How did you benefit from training in USA, in<br />
the lead-up phase towards the Games?<br />
Through my University I had the opportunity<br />
to work with Edward Etzel, a great sport psychologist<br />
and prone Olympic Champion in Los<br />
Angeles 1984. He was a real ‘game changer’ for<br />
me. Moreover, thanks to the US shooting team,<br />
I trained for few months at the Olympic Training<br />
Center of Colorado Springs: a beautiful<br />
place with exceptional training partners such<br />
as Emmons.<br />
You were the first athlete among all sports<br />
to qualify for London <strong>2012</strong>, at the 2010 ISSF<br />
World Championship in Munich. That was<br />
also your first big victory. Can you tell us the<br />
story behind that competition?<br />
ShOOTER <strong>OF</strong> <strong>ThE</strong> <strong>YEAR</strong><br />
The World Championship in Munich was my<br />
first major success. The qualification round<br />
was really tough, I shot 599 but I had to fight<br />
against many “last shot nightmares”… In the<br />
final it was an exciting neck-to-neck contest<br />
against Peter Sidi, and there, my best option<br />
was to focus on my technique. When I realized<br />
that I was the new World Champion and<br />
qualified for the Games I was basically dreaming<br />
while wide awake. Among the audience,<br />
there were also my dad and my first old coach.<br />
It was special.<br />
You’ve been building up your performances<br />
throughout seasons 2010 and 2011. How difficult<br />
is it to stay focused and determined<br />
for three years, in the time leading up to the<br />
Games?<br />
During past seasons I tried to learn from my<br />
mistakes. I improved a little bit in every single<br />
match and that gave me the confidence and<br />
the tools necessary to face the Olympic challenge.<br />
Each season I chose no more than 2-3<br />
international matches where I wanted to<br />
peak, it was really important to not overdo it<br />
and burn out.<br />
Let’s talk about London <strong>2012</strong>. You walked into<br />
the Games saying “I know I can make it.”<br />
How did you build up such self-confidence?<br />
First of all, I meant: “I know I can do my best<br />
at the Games” and not “I know I can win the<br />
Gold”. This is a small but fundamental differ-<br />
ISSF NEWS 1 2013 11
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