A sunny sunshine was the outline in Robilante to the farewell party, among its people, by Elisa Rigaudo.
A different party than usual with an ecological walk that has combined fitwalking and local food and wine walk with over 600 people.
After the end of the party, Elisa Rigaudo left us this interview that is worth reading and revealing its great human thickness.
1.- How did you live after Rio until you decided that it was time to quit?
The after Rio was not easy and above all it was not easy to accept that the race had not gone as I hoped.
The condition was great ten days before, but something did not work in the last period.
We athletes are lucky as we aren't machines ...
As after any "disappointment", I have come into play with new goals.
The days passed, but the fire inside myself there was no longer in the training.
2.- What leaves you race walking at human level ? Occasional or lasting friendships ?
At human level race walking has allowed me to know "great" people, beautiful inside.
Friendships have begun and even now twenty years later there are distant and near.
3.- Regrets ?
Absolutely not.
I chose to do what I liked "race walk" and I got the chance to say "that's enough."
4.- Define with three adjectives the three most important coaches for your successes: Mario Bianco, Sandro Damilano and Patrizio Parcesepe.
Mario Bianco: Passionate (the one who passed on me the values of the sport)
Sandro Damilano: Ambitious (number one in the World on the technical matters and coaching and great motivator)
Patrizio Parcesepe: Special (the one who has been able to give me something new and different I needed at theend of career)
5.- What did you hate (if you hated something) in training each other?
I did not hate anyone, but sometimes too much tranquility by Mario, Sandro's instinctivity and Patrizio's silence did not understand them.
6.- For four or more seasons you are trained with Liu Hong.
How were your relationships? She never made you realize that having her defeated in Beijing had been painful for her.
Relations with Liu Hong have unfortunately never been compared for lack of communication in the language.
We have always had a mutual respect in getting together and during life beyond workout has always been kind in the ways.
Beijing may have been for her a defeat, but then the results have come and she has take it out abundantly.
7.- Now Liu Hong waits for a baby, which advice will give you about returning to the races.
Advices for a super athlete like Liu are absolutely superfluous ...
8.- The race you would do this and what you did
Certainly the Daegu World Championships 2011, I was called myself "good Elisa" at the end of the race: it was a fourth place !!!
9.- The race you would do in a totally different way
Beijing 2015 World Championships, slowing down on the arrival of cautions and first red card to avoid a disqualification. Instinct played me a bad joke.
10.- You wanted the farewell to races in a different way,
Far from clamoring, among your people, with a beautiful fit-walking walk to which over 600 people were present. Explain why this choice and especially if according to you is a choice to export to other colleagues who will sooner or later start the same way.
My goodbye to the races was a great party because with the smile I left the agonistic activity.
The idea was to be in the midst of the people who for many years in front of the television fanatized me. That's what I wanted above all.
Having a gastronomic walk in places (coming to the church of my wedding) to my dear ones has been in the reach of so many ... big and small.
Also because I believe that the walking-fitwalking events would be in the future to be exported and I hope that others do as I did.
11.- Your relationship with race walking judges encountered over the years: hate, love, indifference, fellowship, friendship?
Would you become the Race Walk Judge ?
My relationship with race walking judges has always been respectful for their role, even when they raised the red palette in Beijing 2015.
The family of the race walk around the world is small but lovable: it is a world where everyone knows each other and after the races are not difficult to see celebrating: athletes, coaches and judges all together.
In Royal Leamington in 2000 at my national debut, this was exactly like that, and since then things have not changed: we are more humane and less robot. It's so nice.
Became race walking judge ?
Why not ... I'm of the idea that when you turn a page you have to write another.
We'll see.
Homours guests: Maurizio Damilano (9), Nicola Maggio (360) and Elisa Rigaudo (1)
in one moment of enologichal and gastronomic walk
Honour guests: Maurizio Damilano, Franco Arese, previous President of Fidal and Elisa Rigaudo
Honour guests: Franco Arese, previous President of Fidal, Elisa Rigaudo and last at right Mario Bianco, first coach of Elisa Eigaudo