OUR INTERVIEW
DAMIANO FARNETI: Can you tell us about your personal life?
BENEDETTA: Well, then, a very .. very quiet personal life, I think, like an average 28-year-old: I just do all the things young people do, that is, I spend time with friends, read, study. I like doing a bit of everything, beside training, of course, you know, training is my job, really.
DAMIANO FARNETI: What is your family like?
BENEDETTA: My family is very united, they have always been very supportive ever since
I started, when I was thirteen, and that has certainly helped me achieve the results I have got up to now.
DAMIANO FARNETI: Which secondary school did you attend?
BENEDETTA: I attended pedagogical high school here in Perugia and then I went to
university, I studied Physical Education and
got my degree last year.
MIRKO PIEROTTI: When did you start practising athletics, and how did your passion for hurdling start?
BENEDETTA: I started at the age of twelve with the classic school cross-country race, and on that occasion I was lucky enough to be noticed by my coach, and then, as for the hurdles...let's say...I moved on to the hurdles gradually, after two or three years of activity, because we realized, my coach, Sauro Mencaroni and me, I mean, that I was better at the hurdles than the other track and field events.
DAMIANO BAZZUCCHI: Does one have a gift for hurdling or is it just hard work that matters?
BENEDETTA: Hard work is extremely important, because that is fundamental in all track and field events, then, obviously, a gift, a little talent, yes, that is also necessary, of course.
GIORDANO MONARCHI: What is your typical day, your usual training timetable?
BENEDETTA: Well, my typical day is characterized by a double training session, nearly every day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I wake up at around 8, so in the evening I don't go to bed very late, because, as I said, the next morning there is a training session waiting...
FEDERICO VAGNARELLI: Do you have any other hobbies or interests outside sport?
BENEDETTA: Yes, certainly, I like doing everything, I like doing other sports, too, when I can manage, of course, because having to train so hard, I just don't have any more physical strength left, but obviously I like doing other things, going out with friends, and doing all the things that a young person usually does...
ALESSIO LAPAZIO: What book or film has inspired you?
BENEDETTA: Well... more than one, I would say several books and several films: I love going to the cinema and reading, thrillers, above all, but.. no, there isn't one particular book.
MARCO FERRANTI: Why do you think that the Olympics are important?
BENEDETTA: Over and above the competitive side, there is an incredible spirit, more than in other competitions, a spirit of brotherhood unity among all sports and athletes, a wonderful atmosphere which I have already experienced in 2004 and which I hope to find again Beijing this year.
Jacopo Spigarelli and Matteo Minelli.
MATTEO MINELLI: What difficulties have you met along your career? For example, have you ever had any injuries while training or running? Have you ever had moments when you were not able to get the results you were looking for?
BENEDETTA: Yes, of course, you can't always be at the top of your physical form. And also, you always need to trust your lucky star, because unfortunately you can always hurt yourself, that can happen every day, even during a training session, but the important thing is to always look forward ... you can fall, but you must get up again, and never say die.
JACOPO SPIGARELLI: What do you think about the use of performance-enhancing drugs?
BENEDETTA: I don't think much of them, because as they are banned, it's not right that some athletes should get ahead of others who train hard every day in the field. It's a terrible thing which unfortunately exists, has always existed and will always exist, but for my part, I prefer to train hard and maybe not win rather than take a banned substance and win the race.
JACOPO SPIGARELLI: Do you think everybody should practise sports? If yes, why? If not, why not?
BENEDETTA: I think everybody should do sport, simply to feel good, and so irrespective of the sport and of the level you reach, I think that it's very important to move, to do something which can bring you together with other people.
ANNALISA NARDELLI:. You are an international athlete, so you have the chance to go to a lot of places and countries and to meet other athletes from all over the world. Can you tell us about the relationship with the other athletes, both Italian and foreign?
BENEDETTA: Well, it certainly is a great experience to travel round the world and to meet a lot of people doing the same work in a particular way. Obviously, the competitive element is there and so it's maybe difficult to be friends with athletes in the same event, but I certainly built up many friendships over the years, not only with Italian athletes but also with foreigners and this is wonderful, because when you go to a competition you often see your friends and so that, too, is a pleasure.
ANNALISA NARDELLI: Finally, what are your expectations about this Olympic year, and about the Beijing Games? What are your hopes and fears?
BENEDETTA: The Olympic year certainly is very important, because it only comes every four years, and it is the main target for any athlete who practises a sport at a certain level. My hopes... let's say that first of all I hope I'll manage to reach the Olympic qualifying time, and then, once I'm there, to do well, to do a good race, but... well.. there's a long way to go , I really hope I will manage to get to the end of it.
ANNALISA NARDELLI: One last thing: would you like to give your own personal message to the students taking part in the project?
BENEDETTA: Yes, my greetings and many thanks of course for this project which I think
is extremely important, and the message that I, as an athlete, can leave, is to get moving, to
get together with other people, and to practise sport, because I think that is the most important thing, also in life, as a formative personal experience.
ANNALISA NARDELLI: Thank you, Benedetta, it was great to be here with you.
