Annarita Sidoti would have turned 56 today. The march champion, whom the world has envied Italy and Sicily, disappeared just over ten years ago, exactly on May 21, 2015, when a cruel evil, fought to the last with the same strength and the same determination that had marked his sporting triumphs, torn it to her husband Pietro and the three children, then young.
On that sad day, Italian sport lost an exceptional ex athlete who had brought the blue colors to the international pedestalwith an impressive number of victories, among which the world gold stands out in Athens 1997, the two European titles (Split 1990 and Budapest 1998) and the square of honor in the continental review of Helsinki 1994. But Annarita was first of all an all -round woman, whose humanity and empathy affected anyone who had the pleasure and honor to exchange only a few words with her.
Born in San Giorgio di Gioiosa Marea on July 25, 1969, the smallest of four sisters, it was 1.50 tall and became, for this reason, the “Golden Crock” of Italyas Candido called it Cannavò in an editorial in the Gazzetta dello Sport. The coach of every company was prof. Salvatore Coletta, who followed the amazing growth of Annarita’s performances with loving rigor and professionalism, and the colors were those of Tyndaris Pattese, a company for which he collected success with pride and spirit of belonging.
A amazing career, magical in the two-year period 1997-1998, when, after silver at the Mediterranean games of Bari and the bronze at the Universiade in Sicily, he put the most shimmering medal on the World Cup in Athens 1997 around the neck. Struggling with some physical problems, it was summoned in blue to extremis and in its beloved 10,000 race he immediately made the pace, giving a sign of strength and resilience.
The most accredited rivals have gradually unplugged, imposed itself with a time of 42’55 “, establishing the world record of the season. The following year still triumph in the 10 km of the European Championships of Budapest. An in the sprint affirmation on Erika Alfridi. The acute Olympic was missing, his most alive regret. In 2002, he ended the competitive history, but the pages of his life were enriched with many others. interests and important pages, before that of mom Federico, Edoardo and Alberto.
An opponent, unfortunately unbeatable, had made an appointment with fate, taking her away too early after a hard illness. By Annarita Sidoti will always remain the bright example and an indelible memory of champion and extraordinary woman.
