Challenges are an athlete's bread and butter . And Filippo Tortu knows this well: during the last episode of ''Stasera c'è Cattelan'' broadcast on Raidue, the 4x100 Olympic champion accepted Alessandro Cattelan's invitation to run from the Cordusio stop to the Duomo before the subway restarted . Certainly not a usual task for the twenty-four-year-old sprinter used to the explosive strength of the 100m and 200m, but we know: a thoroughbred draws stimuli from any experience and the sprinter of Tempi origins trained by his father Salvino did not hold back.
Shortly before leaving, he is seated next to Alessandro Cattelan who asks him: " Have you ever done something like this?". Tortu replies amused: « Honestly not, you know I'm more tense than when I have to compete?». Then he gets up and gets into position: black suit comfortable to push on the accelerator, shoes able to guarantee him a good push, the usual smile on the face of those who love racing in all its facets. The doors open and he begins his ride, Cattelan presses him energetically: « Go to Pippo, come on Pippo, come on Pippo. You know I came out of breath to cheer him on.'
Meanwhile Tortu runs through the interior of the metro station, nimbly overcomes the steps, to then venture for a short distance into a Milan that seems to almost stop enchanted as he passes . All united by amazement at seeing him, some take pictures of him, others film him with a short video. Inside the means of transport that awaits him there is an atmosphere of lively agitation, it is a matter of very little and the metro will resume its journey: a journey which, however, Tortu does not intend to miss, succeeding in his goal of getting on board before of the resumption of the route, concluding his effort in 1'19''32.
Once inside, a roar follows his entry, Cattelan approaches him, a handshake, a pat on the back from everyone, two quick beats and the metro starts traveling again. Just like Filippo Tortu who, after his personal best of 200 on 19 July at the World Championships in Eugene in 20''10 and the bronze a month later in Monaco at the European Championships with 20''27 last year, is ready for an outdoor season where to grow further, carving out an absolute leading role in the middle lap of the track.