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For the 2023 Worlds, those preceding the edition taking place in Italy this year, from 12th to 20th July, Alessandra was in Buzios, Brazil, 35 years after claiming her own silver medal at the same venue in the women's overall world championship. A coincidence that allowed Alessandra to relive some of her most intense personal and sporting moments.
In this interview, we tried to understand what it takes to be a Youth Director; what decisions are needed in order to be prepared and motivated for the most important event on the calendar in a segment, that of the under-19s, that can be so delicate, and at times complex, but certainly stimulating due to the very age of the athletes competing, athletes who are given the opportunity to grow up in a highly formative reality. One thing is certain: medals (6 won in the last edition alone) don’t just drop from the sky, they are earned through hard work, which starts from the basics, from the clubs, the coaches, all the way up to federal technicians and athletic trainers, whether at the club or from CONI itself. A chain of talent that, once it finds its balance and the right motivation, bears its fruits in the form of medals, victories, podiums. But first and foremost in the form of human and sporting experiences, which help young sailors mature with important values, such as believing in their team and giving it their all both as an individual and as a crew.
It was a thrilling experience; that silver medal meant the world to me because it was the first time I had won a medal at an overall world championship. Winning a medal at an event like the Youth World Championship is a formative moment above all else, one that gives you so much. This is why I try to make the kids experience an event like this in such a way that it can become an important stage in their career and teach them something, regardless of the result.
It needs to represent a moment of growth, a moment in which those who qualify have the opportunity to experience an event that is markedly different from those they have experienced so far, because racing with only one athlete per nation is completely different compared to 'open' events, such as the Class Championships, where there are more sailors.
Also, the importance of teamwork becomes more apparent and a lot of new factors come into play: the athletes don’t have their own coach but a national coach, the boats, sails and boards are provided by the organisers, and each athlete has to manage so many phases on land and in the water by themselves. These changes alone allow for a great deal of personal growth, regardless of the final outcome.
Since taking up the role of technical director we have won the National Trophy three times now. There is a lot of work that goes behind it since you need to follow the kids through their coaches in planning the season as whole.
There are also joint training sessions in which all those qualified have the chance to spend time together and get to know each other. What I really liked about this year was that the kids were really motivated from the get-go: they waited for each other, helped each other out. This is key as a sense of being part of a team can truly make the difference.
Another key factor is that Italy has always managed to win when the event takes place in the southern hemisphere, towards the end of the year, having had time to prepare during the summer months, something that will not be the case this year on Lake Garda. For the previous team we knew we had very good individual athletes, demonstrated with victories at international championships, but it was essential to create a positive environment that could keep them focused on the event, while at the same time managing to make them have fun and experience it all with a bit of lightness. This is the balance that needs to be struck, the aim of the technical staff, who need to work alongside various figures and, in the months leading up to the event, contribute to achieving the goal.
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