For just under forty seconds, the whole Luigi Ridolfi stadium in Florence is as if it has been enchanted to see them darting over the tartan. The magic of the 4x100 relay allows this and much more, especially when you are the reigning Olympic champions with elements such as Lorenzo Patta, Fausto Desalu and Filippo Tortu. A Filippo Tortu who, last Sunday at his seasonal debut, authoritatively concluded the final fraction of the relay, leading the Azzurri to win with an absolutely respectable time trial of 38''38 on the occasion of the Florence Sprint Festival Relays. His preparation proceeds under the banner of that dedication and meticulousness that have always distinguished him and with an awareness of which he has been a cornerstone: it is the details that make the difference. This is the essence of athletics, a discipline where the little things can consecrate an athlete by fixing his name forever in history.

Tortu let's start from the time achieved in the relay or 38''38: are you satisfied or did you expect something more?

« I would say that it went well, it was certainly a good debut. We would have liked to have done a little better but to be the first race of the season we can't complain. We still have two opportunities to improve, so we look forward with confidence to the next appointments in view of the World Cup in Budapest which will be held from 19 to 27 August».

What sensations did he have during his fraction?

« Very good, then the final fraction stimulates me a lot, it's always been my favourite. More than running fast, I was interested in running well and without getting upset, for now that's fine. There will be time to push to the max."

How was it to compete again?

« It was a great emotion, above all because there was a lot of support being in Italy. Running in a beautiful setting like that of the Ridolfi stadium in Florence was a great stimulus».

In Florence, in addition to her, Lorenzo Patta and Dalia Kaddari, there was also a very young hope of Sardinian speed, namely Elisa Marcello.

« Exactly, I met Elisa in person just last Sunday. She is a determined girl with a great passion, she ran in the relay with the under 18s proving to be brilliant which is not easy when you are so young. For them, being still small, racing with bigger opponents was certainly a lot of experience that will be useful in the future».

On Saturday 13 May he will compete in the 200m in Nairobi. What time do you expect?

« I don't set any specific goals for myself, it's my first individual race so we'll see. Let's say that I'd be happy to race around 20''30 and then we'll see, it will also depend on the weather conditions. Now we need to think about racing and then once we've competed we can draw the first considerations».

On May 24, however, he will be at the Savona Meeting on the 100.

« That's right and I'm very happy with that. I think I can do well, my focus this year will definitely be the 200m but the 100m is also a distance where I want to run fast. Indeed, at this specific moment, I feel more like running the 100 meters taking into account the fact that the half lap of the track will be the main objective».

Will he compete at the Golden Gala in Florence on June 2?

« I think so, now let's see how these first races go».

Should he compete, will he opt for the 100 or the 200?

" Everything is still to be defined, I think more for the 200 but it's too early to say".

Last year, at the Tricolori Assoluti in Rieti, he finished third out of the 100 behind Marcell Jacobs and Chituru Ali: will he take part in the Italian championships this year?

« Racing at the Tricolori is always a great emotion, I hope to be there but we will have to evaluate along the way. I don't know yet, it's a very distant appointment in fact they will be held from 28 to 30 July in Molfetta, I prefer to think about the present: the first goal is to run well in this first part of the season, we will evaluate the rest later ».

Have you changed anything in your preparation lately?

« Basically no, we haven't introduced any changes in training. We are still in the loading phase, the season will be very long and we need to proceed with patience».

2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the death of Pietro Mennea. What is the element that most struck you in its history?

« Pietro Mennea was one of the greatest sportsmen of all time, not only for the results achieved which speak for themselves but for his ability to make use of the lessons learned in many years of competition. I have always been struck by his great passion and desire to always test himself by overcoming his own limits, as well as an incredible constancy in his own path. It is a point of reference of immense value, a precious example for all those who love athletics and sport».

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