Just seeing her take a few steps to grasp her potential: Nadia Battocletti has a light, elegant, never disjointed stride. A perfect combination of legs and arms, torso inclination, energy management: all factors that have allowed her, at just 22 years of age, to carve out a leading role on an international level in an increasingly competitive and evolving track and field athletics. The middle-distance runner of the Fiamme Azzurre, on March 12 at the Roman Theater of Gubbio at the Cross Festival, enchanted the large audience with her advancing and impeccable run, conquering the thirtieth Italian title in her career, between cross-country running, mountain running and track. A thirtieth Italian title that joins the four European cross-country titles at an individual level between the Under 20s and Under 23s and which demonstrates, once again, the class of one of the most crystalline talents ever in our middle-distance running. « Every Italian title is an indelible memory in my memory», reveals Nadia smiling with kind manners, at the end of the lessons in the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture in via Mesiano in Trento where she attends the fourth year, immersed in the greenery among the secular trees on a sky streaked with white clouds tending to purple near sunset.

Battocletti at the Roman Theater of Gubbio, on March 12, the thirtieth Italian title of his career arrived. What did he feel in those situations?

« An immense emotion and happiness, also because I've raced in Gubbio several times and it's a place I'm very fond of. Then, on that type of circuit I was able to express myself at my best, being quite suited to my characteristics; the sensations were very good, I felt I could run an efficient race and that's what happened».

Among the thirty Italian titles won, which is the one you are closest to?

« We are certainly always in the cross sector and I would say the first in 2014 in Marostica, in the first year of the Cadette category. I never expected to win, for me it was a total surprise; the favorite was Marta Zenoni, a girl with great potential, who by the way was in the lead from the start. I was second, I don't know how but I managed to reach it and overtake it about fifty meters from the finish line, winning my first Italian category title over 2 km. I still have goosebumps, it seems like yesterday and yet almost ten years have already passed».

Between track and cross which dimension do you prefer?

« I love both, however, definitely, I would say cross-country running».

Why?

« Because it is much more varied and dynamic, there are many components that make the difference – from the course, to tactics as well as team games – which can allow you to break the bank. In short, everything really needs to be invented in motocross and you never know what will happen».

This year at the Euroindoor in Istanbul he took fourth place out of the 3000m. What was missing to take the bronze?

« I simply didn't focus my preparation on indoor competitions, for me they represented a transition phase while my opponents focused specifically on this appointment. Even though the medal didn't arrive, however, I'm very happy with how it went and also with the lap times».

She is the daughter of art: her father Giuliano Battocletti, who is also her coach, was one of the strongest Italian cross-country skiers while her mother Jawhara Saddougui has a respectable past in fast middle-distance running. How much did it influence your approach to athletics?

« In reality practically nothing, my parents never forced me to choose athletics, in fact I practiced various sports previously. It all happened by chance, during a first local competition at the age of 7. For me it was love at first sight, I literally fell in love with the environment, with the whole context that permeates competitions and I decided to devote myself to athletics even though I didn't train until I was 13, I went to the field only and exclusively to play and have fun."

In his career he has also met some prominent Sardinian middle-distance runners.

« Exactly, in September 2018 in Pescara I won my first absolute Italian title on the occasion of the Tricolori on the 5000m track. In that race, Claudia Pinna of Cus Cagliari came fourth, it was a very exciting tactical race. Then, I also know Alice Cocco who has been Italian cross-country champion several times».

Speaking of Alice Cocco, last year she should have been at the cross of Alà dei Sardi.

« Exactly, but in the end I didn't take part in the demonstration. However, in the future I would like to be able to compete in a historic race like that of Alà dei Sardi, where the greatest middle-distance champions of all time put on a show».

In his palmarès, four European titles also stand out at an individual level, always in cross: among the Under 20s in Tilburg in 2018, in Lisbon in 2019, among the Under 23s in Dublin in 2021 and in 2022 in Venaria Reale. Which do you remember most fondly?

« It's a difficult choice, also in this case the first European title was a surprise, I didn't expect at all to be able to compete with opponents of that level. Instead, at my last Under 23 European Championship in 2022, in Venaria Reale, I felt a very strong emotion: we were competing in Italy, the cheering was crazy, I heard the people crowded along the course shouting my name, all of this gave me incredible charge".

What will the focus be on for this season?

« Certainly on the World Championships in Budapest at the end of August in the 5000m, my preparation is focused on this».

Will his future be in the marathon?

« Absolutely yes and I don't exclude that the debut could already be in a few years. Currently we will focus on the fastest distances but soon we will start thinking about a debut on the 42 km: I'm sure it will be an exciting and stimulating experience».

© Riproduzione riservata