Simone Alessio is undoubtedly one of the spearheads of the entire Italian expedition to the Paris Olympics. For the Calabrian taekwondoka (born in Livorno in 2000, but raised and trained in sports in Calabria in Sellia Marina) the appointment with Paris 2024 is the last stage of a three-year period in which he has demonstrated once again that he is one of the strongest athletes, if not the strongest athlete, in the world in his discipline.
After missing out on a medal in Tokyo in 2021, Alessio arrives at his appointment with history full of energy and calm after the path that has seen him triumph in the most important competitions played from 2021 to today. Gold medal at the European Championships in Manchester 2022, gold medal at the World Championships in Baku 2023 (he had already won a World Championship in Manchester in 2019), gold medal at the 2022 Grand Prix in Rome, Paris and Riyadh. A big fan of AS Roma, on the ring he makes the motto “mors tua, vita mea” his own. In Paris 2024 he wants to kick the disappointment of Tokyo and set his sights on the only gold that is still missing from his collection: the Olympic one. And with him they dream of his family who has seen him grow up making great sacrifices since he was little, Sea saddlethe province of Catanzaro and all of Calabria. All together to cultivate a beautiful dream.
Your second Olympics at 24 years old. What emotions do you feel when you get there?
“It’s a different emotion because the first one was that of a 21-year-old boy who went there without much aspiration even if the goal was always the same. However, he knew in his heart that it was something too big for the maturity he had. Instead now it’s different, there’s a great three-year period of performances and results behind him and therefore the emotion is related to the happiness of participating and the desire to be able to achieve more than the first time”.
Something was missing in Tokyo. What is the recipe to improve compared to 3 years ago?
“In Tokyo, the medal was missing. The recipe was built in these three years because experience was more needed and arriving with a different baggage of victories and defeats and I have built really well in these three years and I have no doubts that I have done a good job. We just have to be able to get the best”.
How important is your family’s contribution?
“The support of my extended family because in Paris there will be both my family and my girlfriend’s step-family. So it will be very important to know that they are there and beyond everything they will support me as they have always been in these years. It is very important to be able to leave the ring, look up and see them there present with me.”
Calabria and Sellia Marina are waiting with trepidation. Are you excited to cheer them on too?
“Yes, definitely, I hope to be able to give Calabria an important medal. I hope to be a further source of pride for all of Calabria and for all of Sellia Marina.”
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