Grandmother: “I lit her candles.” Parents: “It’s our pride”
PORDENONE. From the basement to paradise. There is a place in the bowels of the Pordenone sports hall that you need to know to be able to find it. It is the forge of champions, the kingdom of Dino Marcuz, head of the federal center of high qualification of Olympic weightlifting and federal technician. The man who over the years has brought to the Olympic stage Vanni Lauzana, Raffaele Mancino, twice Moreno Boer and Mirko Zanni, since yesterday the second five-circle medalist in the history of western Friuli.
Together with Luigi Grando, coach of the federal center and Pesistisca Pordenone, Marcuz forged Mirko’s dream, supported him in times of difficulty and sublimated him yesterday, in a liberating exultation. He among the usual four walls steeped in sweat and legend, and the champion, medal around his neck, in Tokyo. «Compared to the other big names I’ve trained – reveals Marcuz – Mirko is more talented, introspective, has more head. Today the last lift was unimaginable ». «The physical qualities were already there – adds Grando -. The psychological work and the management of the race was decisive ».
All around, while Mirko’s first video call arrives («Mom and Dad … I still don’t realize»), her whole little big world. «The greatest emotion of my life – assures grandmother Emidia Cardin -. I lit the candles he asked for and I am delighted. He is a humble and affectionate nephew ». «He has always been mature for his age – echoes her mother Federica Biasio – he worked hard, he spat blood and got where he wanted. We call his room his Olympus because it is divine for us. When he was a child he always told me that he was born to do something great and that he would do it at 30: he is a bit early … He was very attached to his grandfather, Giuseppe Biasio, winner of three Italian titles in bowls: when he won his first medal at the Sports Games, brought it to him and my father burst into tears. As soon as he comes back he will say for sure “Here, I’m all messed up for a medal. I did mine “”).
Papa Giorgio, next door, is perhaps sweatier and happier than his son: «I just heard him, he was beside himself with joy and I must have lost ten years of life. I had never seen such an important race by Mirko: they forced me, it went well, I’ll see more. It is a great result, for us, for Friuli and for Italian weightlifting, which had not won an Olympic medal for 37 years. Now let’s cross our fingers for Pizzolato, who in turn can go to the podium. We are proud of Mirko. They have been difficult, tough years, but he has always faced difficulties with his head held high and this, in the end, pays off. The staff who follow him are also very good ».
Around the TV, refreshments on the table, bottle caps blown, tricolor and old newspaper articles. The arrival of the first cameras, the “Mirko! Mirko ”and the sudden silences during the boy’s video calls.
“Here the kids feel at home because this, for them, is: they arrive at 10 and leave at 17. The technicians prepare food, Grando also gives math lessons, if needed – says Maria Rosa Flaiban, president of the company. -. We have 50 guys, 20 of whom are of federal interest and every year we are first in the ranking of companies. Our secret? Fishing from schools, since childhood. So far we do it from middle school, we will ask to be able to start from elementary school ». After Sunday 25 July it won’t be difficult.