The Sassari weightlifter closes his studies with the private exam: “Then head to the Olympics”
Gianna Zazzara
June 17, 2021
SASSARI. Is it more difficult to lift hundreds of kilos or take the final exam? Davide Ruiu, from Sassari, the youngest weightlifter of the blue expedition who will fly to Tokyo, has no doubts. “I feel more comfortable in the weight room than on books. Let’s say that with the diploma I’ll make mom happy. But I can’t wait to take the exam because in this way I will be more serene and free and I will only be able to think about the Olympics ».
A tough boy Davide, 20 years old in a few days (best wishes!): 4-5 hours of training a day, including Sundays, and homework during breaks. «This year has been an intense period of competitions and study, I tried to organize the time with intelligence, I hope the exam goes well». Davide presents himself as a private owner in an approved accounting institute. “I had to leave public school, weightlifting imposed it on me.” Davide’s love for weights was born in a gym in Sassari, the Sassari sports club. Then at the age of 15 the meeting with the Nuorese Sebastiano Corbu, dt of the Weightlifting Federation, and the convocation in the Italian national team. The rest comes by itself. He moves to Rome and goes to live at the Olympic Center where he trains and continues to study.
«The reaction of my parents when I moved to Rome? Very happy, but keep studying, they told me. Promise kept, tomorrow (today, ed) I have the exam! ». Today Davide boasts a long series of international titles: European junior champion in 2019, bronze at the last European Championships in Moscow in the momentum with 158 kilos lifted. How important is strength in weightlifting? «More than strength, technique counts, and a good coach makes the difference, the secret is all there. I owe a lot to Corbu, he’s like a second father, he was the first to believe in my potential, if I go to the Olympics it’s thanks to him ».
How hard was the journey for Tokyo? «Very hard between heavy diet and physical pain that sometimes made everything more difficult. Now I have more weeks of a strict diet ahead of me. I grew up and now I weigh 64 kilos (he is 1.62 tall), I have to fall into the 61 kilos category. The secret to losing weight? No secrets, just be followed by an expert nutritionist and that’s it. Sins of gluttony? Sweets, I’ll make up for it after the Olympics ».
Weightlifting is not a discipline for everyone, where concentration plays an important role. «When you step on the platform, you play it all in one minute, just one minute. The head is more important than the muscles ». Among his fans in addition to Sassari’s best friends are his parents and grandparents. “They are all very proud, especially my maternal grandfather, he was a sportsman too, he did athletics and knows what sacrifices there are to succeed in sport”.
A life of sacrifice, is it worth it? “This is a job for me. Weightlifting is everything to me, when I grow up I would like to become a coach at the Army Olympic Sports Center ». Among his team mates, two other Sardinians, the multiple world champion Sergio Massidda and Andrea Corbu. “Sergio is a brother more than a friend, now he is still my rival for a little while (both are part of the category up to 61 kg), but outside the platform we are friends as always”. In Tokyo in addition to Ruiu there will be another Sassari, Andrea Agrusti, walker. It hadn’t happened since 1996: Gianni Puggioni in Atlanta in the 4x100m. «It is an honor to represent Sassari and Sardinia at the Olympics. I will do my best”.
In Sassari they call it wild boar. «All the fault of a friend of mine who was on the national team with me, who was also from Sassari. It has become my nickname ». Between training, competitions and studying, is there time for love? “I have been engaged for two years and six months to a golden girl, she is my secret.”
