The topic of bent knee on which we recently published some opinions, in Italy warms up the hearts.

We have been received by a well-known home coach who prefers to remain anonymous (which we have absolutely guaranteed) his "brief personal reflections on the judgment of race walk in Italy."

It is with pleasure that we publish it in the general interest, as we will also publish other opinions on it.

Dear friends of Marcia dal Mondo,

unfortunately there is a note stoned in the judgment of race walk in Italy. Something recently; something constant.

I do not want to do sterile controversy. I just try to understand the reasons, in an effort to stimulate a reflection that involves as much as possible, and in a serene way, who really cares about the fate of one of the most noble disciplines of the Athletics.

Many of our best walkers (male and female, I want to point out) often in Italy do not reach the finish line, for disqualification; abroad seem to suffer a "metamorphosis" (they actually walked in the same way) and often finish the race by improving their personal best, reaching prestigious rankings.

We could also say, conversely, that there are Italian male and female walkers who always or almost end their race at home and abroad (almost) never.

There seems to be a very different judgment depending on whether it compete in Italy, with "local" juries or competing abroad, in the presence of international juries.

Personally, in Italy, I still notice an impressive number of sanctions for “bent knee” not only in young but also in senior categories. 

With regard to the eternal debate “bent knee - loss of contact” the three interesting contributions published on your Marcia dal Mondo website (respectively June 15, 2017, July 6, 2017 and July 11, 2017) did not suffice to make things change. The same happens for the contribution of Antonio Amigo (brilliant researcher at the University of Barcelona) published on the same site on July 14, 2017.

But above all, it should reflect on our many bent knee, the international 

judgment in Grosseto, in my opinion extremely correct, where we have seen the opposite.

It does not turn out to be much changed, as long as everything has been read carefully, although I am not convinced: today it is preferable to venture through the Social Network rather than focus on readings dealing with root problems.

I think it is time to go back to studying the race walk to converge, as much as possible, on a coherent, scientific, internationally shared, technical reference model, possibly with a view to "sporting education" and without indulging in formalistic severity that depresses but does not improve the very young athletes.

Thank you if you want to publish on your site, asking you to keep anonymity for obvious reasons of confidentiality.

Signed letter