Dear Roberto,

has been so long since you feel, perhaps too long, and then allow me today to write these few words.

We live in a time when the Italian race walking is into turmoil, or at least somebody want we believe it.

I do not want will treat topics ending up on the gallows or of justice nor of doing good or loyalists.

I want only to rember you that you were the "deus ex machina" the lack of the race that for three years now, the race walk of our home is living.

A symbolic poverty, not made of the results that may be there and not be there, a poverty due to the loss of a symbol that embodied the very identity of what had been the story of race walk in the Bel Paese.

Yes, Roberto, I am referring to your historical "Sesto San Giovanni”.

Since 1957, when it all began, the love story between Sesto San Giovanni and race walking continued, and never seemed destined to have no end.

After the first year with victory of Pino Dordoni in the 30 km alongside Abdon Pamich (both then they vied for Diana Piacenza) with a time of 2:29.01, many champions paraded on Sesto streets.

Needless to list the most important names.

I shall focus on only one who has up to date the record of victories: seven between 1961 and 1967. Abdon Pamich.

Everyone, absolutely everyone raced in Sesto.

Unfortunately the events of life meant that after the death of Luigi Galbiati, who for thirtyfive years had been the president of the Organising Committee of the race from which you took the baton, the clouds massed the flagship race of walking in Italy .

We were there on April 30, 2013 when you spoke during the press conference, in a classroom almost empty of walkers from our Country, it would be the last time.

We do not be believed.

We were wrong.

Today, three years later, dear Roberto, we have lost a symbol.

I at least I feel poorer, and I think that many thinks like me: unfortunately we do not concur with our mistakes.

I am close to you.

An anonymous friend