Patta, the Olympic champion next door

A career born by chance. The Olympic champion Lorenzo Patta is 21 years old, from Oristano with solid roots in Samugheo and, in his life, he achieved scientific maturity. He has a girlfriend, Mara, and a sister, Alessia. His father Mario, a non-commissioned officer of the Air Force, passed on to him the passion for football, for Rome and for Francesco Totti. With her mother, Serena, she has always supported her choices. He is a boy with no crickets in his head, Lorenzo. Three years ago, suddenly, as a young aspiring footballer, after his experiences with the Sacro Cuore of Oristano and with the La Palma of Cagliari, he started practicing athletics as a competitive player. This summer in Tokyo came the gold medal in 4x100m and, with it, fame.

Its history on the track is recent. Patta makes his official debut in school competitions on April 30, 2016 in Sassari on the 100 where he achieves 11 ”23 without training. A month later, on May 31st, he won the silver medal at the Tricolori student at the Stadio dei Marmi in Rome with 11 ”16. And it is the first in a long series of improvements that have allowed him to fly to the Tokyo Olympics. In 2017 he won the Allievi title on the 200 with 21 "45 and makes remarkable times like 15" 95 on the 150, 35 "44 on the 300 and 49" 24 on the 400. From that moment the choice to devote himself only to running, followed as a shadow by Francesco Garau. And, as if by magic, its growth becomes unstoppable: in 2018, in the first year Juniores, the Italians in the 100 and 200 category arrive, a distance where at the Under 20 World Championships it is 21 ”09. 2019 ends with the enthusiasm for silver in the 4x100 at the Eurojunior of Boras and the 10 "43 on the 100. Staff further lowered in 2020 where, passing to the Fiamme Gialle, with 10" 31 wins the title among the Promises in Grosseto at its debut. 2021 is the year of consecration: at the Meeting in Savona on May 13, Patta achieves first 10 "18 then 10" 13, on the same day as the Italian record on 100 of Marcell Jacobs with which, together with Filippo Tortu and Fausto Desalu, almost three months later, he would write an indelible page in the relay.

In Tokyo, you can say that you have touched the sky with your finger. From "carneade" of sport at certain levels to star, of those who enter the myth and remain there forever. The Olympic champion, in this interview with L'Unione Sarda and Unionesarda.it , talked about his future projects and, among other things, about his personal aspirations.

Patta, what are you left with the triumph in Tokyo?

“I still have in my head the images of those wonderful moments, the races, the party with all the companions in the village, the party arrived at the airport. These are moments that I would like to live again. In addition to all this, the Tokyo experience made me mature a lot, both as an athlete and as a person ".

Unique moments for sure: who did you share them with?

“With the people who have always been there and who will always be there: my family and my friends, who have seen me grow up or with whom I grew up together. I hope I have made them proud and happy with what we have done ”.

Did you expect a star reception, like the one that was reserved for you when you returned?

“In part, yes. I was expecting someone to come to Elmas airport to celebrate, but - I'm honest - not so many people. Above all I wasn't expecting everything they created, so t-shirts, billboards and more. I will thank them forever ”.

How does it feel to be recognized on the street?

“I like it a lot. I like being able to chat with the people who stop me and recognize me, or take a picture. The best thing is when maybe they tell me that they got excited, or even cried, seeing our race. I get goosebumps every time ”.

And having received, from Mattarella down, the compliments of the highest offices of the state?

“Another day that I won't forget very easily, it was really exciting. I am happy to have lived those moments together with my coach, Professor Garau: he was also present ”.

What do people ask you at the bar, at the market, in the clubs you frequent?

“Nothing too particular, let's say that they mainly compliment me. A question they ask me very often, which unfortunately I cannot answer, is whether Tokyo was a beautiful city: unfortunately we were unable to visit it ”.

Until three years ago he was playing football. By the way, did you meet your idol, Francesco Totti?

“I could have met him in Monza, but unfortunately I haven't seen him. I met Alex Del Piero ... a great person ".

If you could, would you trade a career as a football player for the emotions you experienced this summer?

"Absolutely not. I believe that an Olympic gold medal is difficult to match with another sporting competition or with a career as a football player ”.

On social media it is now depopulated: can you follow its pages alone?

“Yes, it is not demanding at the moment. I try to give the right weight to my presence on social networks ".

Has her popularity grown too ... among girls?

“Well, I honestly don't know. I've been out of the… market for a while now (laughs) . I have been happily engaged for two years with Mara ”.

Do you have any idea of starting a family from a young age?

"No. At least another couple of Olympics will pass before starting to think about starting a family ”.

Do you have a particular hobby?

“One in particular no. You might not think so, but I'm a pretty lazy guy. I like listening to music or playing with the Playstation ”.

Do you still play soccer every now and then, at least with friends?

“No, I avoid: I'm always afraid of getting hurt”.

So he doesn't score anymore?

"Good old days, now".

Will you buy a house with the Olympic prizes?

“I haven't decided what to do yet, I'll see later. If I were to buy a house, absolutely in Oristano, or in any case in the area. It is still too early to move elsewhere ”.

Returning to more technical topics, what is the relationship with the rest of the 4x100 gold group?

"Fantastic! We formed an inevitably unique relationship after the medal. The other three, Tortu, Desalu and Jakobs, three had known each other for a long time. I sneaked in at the last minute, but it was as if I had known them for a lifetime ”.

There is a special understanding with Tortu, right?

“Let's say yes. Both because I have known him for longer and because of his Sardinian origins. Maybe that's why we feel more united ”.

In the end, will you keep your promise to do a race together in Sardinia?

“As far as I'm concerned, absolutely yes. We will see later, next year. Without adequate athletic tracks, however, unfortunately we cannot run ”.

His success has upset the hierarchies of national athletics: is he ready to "explode" definitively even in the 200 meters?

"I hope so. It's my favorite distance and I can't wait to get back to running it. We, like every year, will base our preparation on 200, then we will see how it goes ".

Have you talked to your coach yet?

“Sure, we talk to each other practically every day. Another couple of weeks of rest and then we start again ”.

Will you do the preparation in Oristano?

"Yup. I have no reason to move elsewhere. The only one, maybe I'll be repetitive, could be the track. Still all is silent, they had announced the start of work in September. We arrived in October and still no leaf has moved. I hope they really understand how important it is to have an athletics track in Oristano, where you can go back and maybe have some meetings, like those that were once. It would be my biggest dream ”.

When and where will the new season open?

“We still don't know, it's too early to think about it. It will be more or less around the same time last year, perhaps in early May ”.

And when is the first meeting with the national team scheduled?

“Even in this case we still don't know. This year there are many important appointments with the national team. Two above all: the European Championships in Munich and the World Championships in Eugene, in the United States ”.

What is its goal?

“I have not set myself a goal for this year, I just hope to do well and to confirm myself on these levels”.

Describe a typical day of yours.

"Nothing special. I get up in the morning, have breakfast and go to the camp. I come back more or less for lunch time and eat. The afternoon program varies very often: sometimes I'm tired from training and so I sleep, other times maybe I go out with my friends ".

Is it followed up on nutrition?

“Yes, from a specialist who works in Cagliari, Claudia Abete”.

Now he is on vacation. He must have done a few tears.

“Absolutely yes, in fact I am already afraid of the next visit (Jokes). Let's say that I am lucky enough to eat and not gain weight, so it is excellent this way ".

When will he resume training?

"In mid-October, more or less".

In conclusion, give some advice to kids who are approaching athletics.

“No advice. Think of having fun: when you are a child you just have to do that. Then, to do things seriously, they will have a lot of time ”.