The athlete from Miradolo Terme protagonist of a fantastic time trial race «A medal torn with blood and teeth. The lesson? Do not give up”
pavia
Fabrizio Cornegliani from Pavia won the silver medal in the H1 category handbike time trial on the Fuji Speedway circuit in the Tokyo Paralympic Games. Cornegliani di Miradolo Terme was at his first participation in the Paralympics and confirmed the jersey of reigning world champion, so much so that only a fall during the test prevented him from getting on the first step of the podium.
The fifty-two year old from Pavia, who entered the national team only a few years ago, did not let himself be knocked down by the crash, but immediately got back on his handbike and finished in second place, crossing the milestone finish line. 16 of the race distance in a time of 45’44 “56, behind the South African Nicolas Pieter du Preez, who instead closed his test in the time of 43’49” 51.
Just to be clear, Fabrizio Cornegliani was in second position in the middle of the race just 18 seconds from the South African and then the crash. «Half a century as a sportsman, this is what this medal represents for me – said Fabrizio after the competition – I fell, got up and had the determination not to give up until the end. I have shown that by believing in it I can achieve any goal. This silver, which I tore with blood and teeth, is completely dedicated to my father Carlo who pushed me to get here and to Lorenzo, my son who accompanied me to the mountains in Livigno in the pre-Olympic training camp. All together we have never stopped believing in five years and I have done the same despite the crash in the race ».
Twenty-one years ago, during a martial arts match in Lodi, Fabrizio suffered a very serious injury that cost him the dislocation of the C5 and C6 vertebrae. “Two were starting to quarrel and they overwhelmed me, I had an injury that compromised the use of my limbs. At the beginning of practicing wheelchair sports I really didn’t want to know – recalls Cornegliani – rehabilitation was slow and tiring, for three months he also needed a respirator. Then one day I tried Paolo Cecchetto’s handbike in Sestriere and I fell in love. The management of quadriplegia is all in the head, at a certain point it no longer weighs on you and it goes automatically: it becomes like walking ».
Over time, para-cycling has become a great passion, he intensified his training and began to accumulate trophies, after being registered by the Equa Team of Santa Cristina and Bissone.
«He, Paolo Cecchetto and Walter Groppi were the three athletes on whom we founded the Equa Team – smiles the president Ercole Spada – to think that the first time he got on a handbike after 100 meters Fabrizio didn’t want to know anymore, then he passionate. He is a very good mechanic, he invented hooks for himself and for Luisa Pasini that can be released to help them in the race, since they have little strength in their hands. He rebuilds the backrests of our handbikes, I buy the foam and he personalizes them for all our athletes. Today, however, I was afraid when he fell, but as he got up I knew he would make it. I am supersatisfied, only that his arm is swollen, I hope it does not affect the race in line “.—
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