To obtain a solid result, much more is needed than talent, especially in a discipline such as athletics. Dedication, meticulousness and perseverance are needed: fundamental qualities that are certainly not lacking in Daniele Desogus who, last Saturday at the ''Santoru'' in Cagliari, became the absolute Sardinian champion out of the 100m with a time of 10''87 which for the twenty-eight year old from Villasor – athlete of the Gonone Dorgali of the president Ignazio Sagheddu - also represents the new staff, six hundredths better than last year's 10''93. A time behind which careful study is hidden, Desogus is in turn a coach of promising youngsters such as Silvia Aru and Marianna Alivia, and the awareness that athletic maturity is the direct consequence of many small steps taken daily. The 100m represented one of the most technical tests of the event during the Sardinian championships: Desogus faces the final with serenity, runs in lane 5, bib number 848, in battery a chrono that bodes well for 10''97. Among its strong points is the start and, in fact, thanks to an excellent start, it immediately gains a precious margin, to then relax well after the first thirty metres; next to him in lane 4 is Daniele Pisanu of Delogu Nuoro and in lane 6 Diego Nappi. The latter tries to recover but Desogus resists the tenacious comeback of the very young sprinter from Athletics Porto Torres, managing to make his own the regional title. A title that for the Gonone Dorgali standard-bearer, professor of Physical Education at the Alberti Scientific High School in the capital, sanctions a new beginning by demonstrating that it is always worth pursuing an objective and that the commitment made, in due time, will bear fruit.

Desogus finally got the first Sardinian title at an individual level. Were you expecting it?

« I'm being honest, I didn't expect it also because there were very competitive opponents. Let's say that I was hoping for it in my heart also because I knew I had trained well, so this gave me an extra gear».

What sensations did he have in the race?

« Good, the day wasn't the best but already in the heat I realized that I could easily run under 11 seconds and this gave me a lot of confidence. In the final I was relaxed, I knew I could have my say and meeting talented guys galvanized me, pushing me to give my best».

For a matter of thousandths she got the better of Diego Nappi, one of the clearest talents that Sardinian athletics has ever expressed in its history.

« Yes, I can only be honored by this. Challenging Diego was also very nice because we have an excellent relationship both with him and with his coach Marco Trapasso, a very humble and well-prepared coach. We are often in contact, it has even happened to train several times together. What else to say about him? He is an immense talent, he is still very young and can really grow a lot over the years".

Your 2023 started in a positive way with indoor, now the Sardinian title has arrived: how will the season continue?

« Indoors are a type of competition that I appreciate a lot, they amuse me. This year, on January 29th in Iglesias, I made my personal 60m in 7''05 and this was certainly a good start. I am currently observing a period of rest due to an inflammation of the hamstrings, once I start running again we will gradually start with the workouts. I will most likely compete in the Cus Cagliari facility in Sa Duchessa on June 7th».

Speaking of Cus Cagliari, one of the most significant figures in its career is Rita Demontis. How important was that to her?

« Rita was fundamental, for me she is like a mother. I was followed by her from 2011 to 2017 and she represents an essential figure in my sporting and human journey. He passed on his great passion to me, teaching me to live athletics calmly and making me understand how precious it is to know how to wait and calibrate every decision. Seeing her on the pitch coaching the boys in turn prompted me to take this path, and for me she is still a unique point of reference».

His technician is Stefano Caneo, head of the speed sector of the regional committee. What role did it play in its growth?

« Stefano is, first of all, a close friend as well as a young, prepared and highly experienced technician. He has been following me since 2019, with him we create a very stimulating continuous comparison where we constantly get new ideas for reflection. He always pushed me to give my best, spurring me on even in the moments when the lap results didn't correspond to what I was really worth. Ours is a relationship of total trust, an essential factor both from a competitive and human point of view».

What will you focus on most this season?

« Definitely on the 100 and 200, especially on the half lap of the track I would like to go under 22 seconds having a personal best of 22''19 achieved however with a lot of headwind. I'd also like to play a race abroad, it's an experience I've never had and I'm sure it could give me new stimuli».

You were born as a Quattrocentista: when will we see you again on the track?

« The 400m are certainly a race that I love, I haven't competed in them since 2015 but I don't hide the intention of getting back into the game, especially taking into account the fact that I have improved my base speed and that they could allow me to lengthen my my career: after the age of thirty you can still take great satisfactions, in Sardinia we have the example of Daniela Lai who at 44 continues to be one of the top sprinters and jumpers of the regional movement. I could take a test at the end of the year but it's still too early to tell; certainly, however, from next year the lap will once again be an important objective. I would also like to do a 400m hurdles again, in 2012 I ran them in 58''77s, it's a race I like where I would like to put myself to the test again».

In the past, in the Juniores category, you also competed in the 800m. In the future, will you also compete again on the double lap?

" I honestly don't think so. Doing the 800m was certainly formative but, despite being a fascinating race, I don't particularly feel it in my comfort zone, I have a much greater predisposition for faster races».

Let's take a step back: how did you approach athletics?

« In 2009, I took my first steps at Athletica Serramanna during a time when I was recovering from a knee injury I got while playing football. From that moment on, I became more and more passionate and I never stopped, despite the difficult moments I experienced such as a knee surgery in 2017 that limited me for a long time».

Besides being an athlete, you are also a professor of Physical Education. How important is this role to you?

« It is a very important and highly responsible task, teaching is an experience that offers you many stimuli allowing you to stay in contact with young people. Especially in this phase, where the age difference between me and my pupils is small, a particularly direct and very sincere relationship is created: this is an aspect that I love and from which it is possible to draw valuable reflections».

What does athletics represent for you?

« Athletics, in whatever guise it is practiced, is above all a great passion. Going to the field must be a pleasure, everything else is built naturally and serenely without being obsessed with the search for results».

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