FLASH
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As of today, Lara Colturi is officially a red and black athlete, at least for the next edition.
The transfer deadline has ended and, with it, the saga of her possible transfer to Italy. In an exclusive interview for Top Channel, Daniela Ceccarelli, Italian Olympic champion, and Lara Colturi's mother and coach, tells about everything that has happened.
Daniela Ceccarelli: "We are trying to create for Lara a safe and serious environment, and to have all the necessary instruments to achieve the objectives. Of course, so far we have done a lot in these three years and we want to continue with the support of the Albanian Federation, as well as our technical support - as professional assistance, but also as a family for Lara."
The entire month of April was filled with speculation about a possible move of Lara from Albania to Italy. What really happened?
Daniela Ceccarelli: "There has been a dialogue between the federations, the Albanian and the Italian, but I cannot give you more details. For our part, we have been focused on the dialogue with the Albanian Ski Federation, to identify all the improvement opportunities we need to manage Lara as a high-level athlete."
At the upcoming Olympic Games, Lara Colturi will compete under the red and black colors. You know very well what the Olympics means – you are a champion yourself.
Daniela Ceccarelli: "Of course, it will be a very nice experience for her, as it will be her first time and she is still very young. It is a different experience from the World Cup, because of the Olympic environment and the great attention. We need to maintain a serious environment, without overloading her with expectations. I, for example, won the Olympics at the age of 27. She will be at the Olympics at the age of 19, which will take place next year in Cortina. Of course, it is a very important experience, but she needs to take it a little more sportingly. I don't think she will do more than a year ago. In these three years, during which she also had an injury, it has been a very demanding period. Now we need to improve the quality of preparations and better manage the distances in the trips."
Is Lara under pressure from your history as an Olympic champion to reach or surpass it?
Daniela Ceccarelli: “They are very different stories, mine and hers. I am from Rome, and I didn't have any mountains nearby, I started late. She was practically born in the snow, near Turin, and started skiing when I wasn't into this sport yet. She has been with me in the World Cup since she was 13 months old. As Lara herself says – and I really like what she says – 'Mom was a very good athlete, but I have my own story to write.' I can't say whether she will be better or worse – it will just be different. She has climbed three podiums in the World Cup at the age of 18, which is almost as many as I have climbed in my 15-year career. So, there is a different rhythm. For her, it will be her first time in Cortina, a very fast track, which we will test during the winter, since we will be there nearby.”
What about the fact that an Italian woman is competing for another flag in an Olympics taking place in Italy?
Daniela Ceccarelli: "This will depend a lot on us. Lara is a very serious girl and this new generation experiences things differently than previous generations. They have a more focused relationship with work. Lara skis because she likes it and it is our duty to, through this pleasure, build expectations."
So now you're just Lara's mother, rather than Daniela Ceccarelli?
Daniela Ceccarelli: "Now I'm Lara's mother. Even on the street they stop me and say: 'You are Lara's mother'. And this is something very beautiful, because it is a new chapter in our lives."
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