Tomorrow in Rio Maior returns to competitions after the second maternity Elisa Rigaudo that after the first child, the birth of Elena in September 2010, was fourth at the World Championships Daegu 2011, seventh Olympics in London in 2012 and fifth in the World Championships of Moscow in 2013, when his last race.
"I go to Rio Maior to break the ice and because I want to understand where I am in my path of return. A few months after giving birth, I know that I will not be a leader and that I get to several minutes from the first (I would not talk about the times but I can say that I do not expect to walk in less than 1:30), but it is a moment that I will need to do the next steps up to Rio, which remains the big goal so I dusted off the walking shoes ".
In Portugal the athlete now coached by Patrick Parcesepe, will have a clear picture of the state of her actual shape.
"Of course I could have chosen a return softer, maybe a race in Italy, less competitive ... but it would be useful as an international comparison. I have always dealt with the athletic humility, and I still do. I started to walk for three months. This time I had less problems than the first motherhood, perhaps because I have learned to know and to accept my limitations. I was more careful and patient in the early months, I gave more attention to muscle recovery and exercises to contain my hernia back. The result has been three months without a hitch, I'm happy. "
Scenarios, in the meantime, have changed: "Since my last race, the panorama of Italian walk has changed a lot, and it's nice to see the young as Eleonora Giorgi and Antonella Palmisano already so competitive on the international scene. I know more Antonella, because we train together Casteloporziano for long periods: for me it is a great stimulus, walk together helps me a lot in my path of return. I have nothing to teach, because the things you learn on the field, but I hope they can be of help. "
The number of registered athletes in Rio Maior and present on site is very important (36 women and 67 men in the senior adding to 17 junior women and 12 junior men). The quality of the events, reading the names of the athletes are of a very high level, and the forecast is to have a competition of the highest quality.
Have been suggested to the organizers some minor schedule changes.