At just 14 years old, he is the brightest star of the Sassari Piroddu dynasty. “Girls, come on the carpet with me”
SASSARI. The first to step on the carpet was the grandfather. Then his father and his brother Simone, several times Italian champion. Now a star has emerged from the Piroddu dynasty of wrestlers, Denise, 15 in December. After winning silver at the European under 15 wrestling championships, last Saturday in Ostia she climbed to the top step of the podium at the Italian rookie championships, making an encore of the cadet title. Denise trains in Sassari, in the family gym, Polisportiva Athlon. His coach is his father Mario.
Fighting is a family art. So young and already so strong.
«2021 was a fantastic year, first the silver medal at the European Championships, now the Italian rookie title. It was tough but I never gave up training even in the darkest times of the pandemic. Indeed, sport was my outlet. I recommend to all kids to play sports, it helps to grow ».
What did your grandfather Vincenzo, who is also the president of Athlon, tell you?
“He is very proud. He told me that he seems to see the whole dynasty on the carpet! Obviously he is also very proud of my brother Simone: in November he was called up for the World Cup, I hope to become as good as he is ».
Why free wrestling? It is not the most natural choice for a girl.
“Why not? It is a complete sport for a girl, you have to be strong but agile. And then you also acquire self-defense techniques, with a wrestling grab you can knock anyone down, not bad for women. My mother was also a fighter ».
Did they put pressure on them in the family?
“As a child I tried everything from dancing to swimming. But in the end I always ended up at my father’s gym, on the mat. I would say that free wrestling and I have chosen each other ».
What do her friends think? Did he try to get them to follow his example?
“I tried, but they tell me it’s not a sport for girls. Instead in the rest of Italy it is widely practiced, only here they see it as a male sport ».
And the school, do the teachers help you to combine sport and study?
“I would say no, I also have to justify sports absences and there is no discount during interrogations.”
What will he do when he grows up?
«The wrestling athlete, my dream is to enter the Army sports group like my brother».
Is wrestling a dangerous sport?
“You have to be careful, of course, and you have to agree to go home with a few bruises, nothing more.”