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The Golden Gala Pietro Mennea – Presented by IP feels like a gladiators’ arena. On the eve of the big night at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico (Friday, June 6, 7:15 PM), Italian and international athletics stars launched the 45th edition during the pre-meeting press conference, inviting everyone to join them at the stadium.
Stefano Mei (Italian Athletics Federation President): “I’m so glad and proud to be there for the 45th edition. I was here when meeting started, as a spectator, and once again in the beautiful town of Rome it will be a great show. We try to organize the best possible meeting in this moment of the season. I’sure that tomorrow night we will see a beautiful show with a lot of Italian athletes and worlds stars”.
Marco Sicari (Meeting Director): “I want to remember a friend passed away yesterday, Giorgio Lo Giudice, a journalist who has followed all the 45 editions of the Golden Gala. It’s very important for us to honour him, I’ve heard his voice on the tribune for years and we will miss him a lot. We expect tomorrow to be a great athletics night. We worked together with a team composed by Italian Athletics Federation and Sport e Salute, the national government agency for sports. It’s exciting to have 11 Olympic champions, 6 reigning champions from Paris last year, and more than 60 international medallists. A super race in women’s 5000m with Chebet, Tsegay and Battocletti, but also great field events, men’s high jump with Olympic champions from last two editions of the Games, women’s discus with 9 of the 10 best in world rankings. The season is entering in the real heart, having the World Championships in September, and I’m quite curious to see what will happen. Ticketing is open until the very last moment, it’s a great show that no one has to miss. We are convinced that the Golden Gala is also a way to bring into the stadium in one night all different expression of athletics — young kids at the Palio dei Comuni relay, Paralympic and masters competitions. We are also on the way to let the event be more sustainable than ever, with a special testimonial like Nadia Battocletti who is really happy to be part of this project”.
Valarie Allman (discus): “I like how the structure of this season has been redesigned with the Worlds as the end. We can have two parts of the season, the first is the foundation that ends up really being able to help to be at your best later. Rome is probably the Diamond League meeting that I have hoped to be at for my entire professional career, so to finally be here is really special. I’ve had the chance to visit the Coliseum and it was spectacular, I feel like I was preparing for Gladiator 3. The history that is in the city every corner you walk around is just something absolutely stunning, it’s really inspiring to be in a place where there is such beauty. It will be a very strong fight but I’m proud that I’ve gone to a point where I see the start list and it motivates me. In the past I have been a ballet dancer, it has helped me to perform because the movement in discus throw is quick, it’s a second and a half, as precise as possible”.
Hamish Kerr (high jump): “I always want to jump as high as I can, it’s getting better and better. I feel like i’ve done some good training but my technique has not really clicked on yet. I’m really happy Tamberi is here, I know that any competition with him is always amazing, he’s such a showman. I was always a sporty kid, I loved to get out of the classroom and spend time on sports field. In athletics I love the feeling of being able to do a personal best and really measure myself against anyone in the world in any competition. I hope we get some big event in New Zealand, maybe in January or February”.
Filippo Tortu (100m): “Tomorrow will be the best occasion to come back at 100m because a lot of time has passed since my last competition over this distance. I would like to run more 100m this year. In last season I was focused on 200m, but this year I want to run again under 10 seconds. I’m very happy to be here, one year ago at the stadio Olimpico I won European gold in 4x100m relay. A lot of my friends are coming from Milan by car, I bought tickets for them, it’s like a tradition for us. Every time I compete here since 2017 all my friends come to cheer me. I think we will go out for dinner after the race, I hope some restaurant will wait for us”.
Leonardo Fabbri (shot put): “Tomorrow I just want to have fun, because Rome is a big opportunity for us to make people happy. I always enjoy Rome, especially at Europeans last year and I want to feel the same sensations. The biggest mistake could be to compare myself now and last season, because one year ago I was in such a great shape, having the Euros in June, but now we are working very hard towards Tokyo in September. I’m getting better day by day, still not ready for 23m but hopefully for 22m. I must be ready for a big one, if a big one is coming”.
Gianmarco Tamberi (high jump): “I’m honoured to compete again at the Golden Gala, one of my favourite meetings. The crowd here is amazing. One my biggest goals is to give support to Italian athletics so I’m very happy to be here even if my road started in a different way this year. I take the energy from the spectators and try to give back something. I have also to say, as captain of National team, that I try to give it back everything I have learned over the years. I like to see young athletes growing. It’s such a great feeling to wait for becoming a father. I see my wife is changing in a wonderful way, every day I’m more in love for her and for the new princess that is coming. I want to keep going at high level, thanks to my staff, to Italian Federation and President Stefano Mei for the help to reach my goal that now is Los Angeles 2028 after what happened in Paris where I was probably in the best shape ever. For some months I was a bit confused, then I understood my new path, trying to be health again. I’ve had a problem at my knee, now I’m coming back, in a shape that of course at the moment is not the same of last year. Athletics is going great in Italy, we need the support of the crowd”.
Mattia Furlani (long jump): “I worked a lot this year and there is consistence, because talent is nothing if you don’t work and if you don’t do it very well. I think we are in the right road, I’m focused for the season. My first appearances at Diamond League meetings, a couple of years ago, gave me so much experience. I did failures that helped me to grow up and prepare for big Championships, like Paris Olympics. I’m ready for tomorrow, I remember being there in 2016 as a spectator watching Gianmarco, to be here for me is an honour. Inspiration is the most important part for athletes, I’m so excited to see the future stars next year at Euro U18 Champs in Rieti, my town”.
Carey McLeod (long jump): “Nowadays Jamaica is competitive also in field events. It’s a good thing, showcasing talents in other disciplines, not only in sprint races. We have one of the hardest national championships, it helped me to keep the flame of competing. I’m also learning my discipline, to make quick decisions during the competitions”.
Nadia Battocletti (5000m): “It’s not easy to prepare exams at the college and also be professional athlete. I have to balance studies and running. I know how I’m training, I see my shape, in this way i can manage expectations. It’s a pleasure for me to be involved in a sustainibility project. Moreover, probably my thesis will be focused on this theme. We have to pay attention on what is important for us, thinking at small things to have big results”.
Beatrice Chebet (5000m): “I’m ready and prepared for a good performance, I will do my best to make a win. Everyone is running his own race, but I just want to run fast, it is my only target. It’s always fun to meet fans, I will also try to enjoy Rome and the beauties of the city”.