Change of technical guide for the walker Marco De Luca. The Roman Fiamme Gialle, 35, switching from Patrick Parcesepe guide, the coach who launched internationally in athletics, to those of Giovanni De Benedictis, star of race walk in the years 1987 to 2004, bronze in Olympic 20km to Barcelona in 1992. 

A soft change the one between De Luca and Parcesepe, as the same athlete is keen to stress. "It could not be otherwise - his words - the fact that we decided to follow different paths, does not change the esteem I have for him: I consider him one of the best coaches around the world, and I add that if I am the actual athlete, I owe it to him certainly. After the Rio Games, however, the feedback that we have done on the path hereinafter have been divergent, and serenely we decided to go ahead each with their own ideas."

 

Marco De Luca finds support in Giovanni De Benedictis, one of the walkers more continuous in the history of our movement, with five Olympic Games: "I hope to be able to take advantage of the great  experience of Giovanni - continues De Luca - and receive from him the shock that inevitably changes end up giving. I find beautiful and inspiring work with former top athletes, I can understand a lot of my feelings. On a practical level, in fact, it will not change much, because I'll be moving to Pescara for a few days every couple of weeks, and Patrick will continue to follow the work performed at home; recoveries, as always, I will make them myself (on the bike path that cuts through Rome North, and traveling for years in both directions, editor's note) .

 

The future always says 50: "Yes, the point at the World Championships in London, in the long distance walk; I will not do 50km on other races during the season. This year, in Rio (3:54:40 in 21st place) I paid essentially two things: in addition to the climate, also the energy spent at the World Cup in Rome. But 2016 was not at all to be thrown away, indeed: a lap level, I have improved both ny personal best in the 20km (1:22:01 in Rio Maior), and 50km (3:44:47 in Rome). Sign that the job had been done well."

 

 

 

 

Giovanni de Benedictis with the athlete Erika Fusella

(Photo by the blog Opinioni Aerobiche by Mario de Benedictis)