Marchetti, blue coach talks about the bronze “A historic medal also built in Pavia”

He led the national ski team at the Beijing Paralympic Games “We made it to the last race, a dream that came true”

the budget

“Having won a medal at the Winter Paralympics is a dream that has come true.” Word of Paolo Marchetti, from Pavia, Italy coach and great friend of Giuseppe Romele, who conquered the bronze medal in the middle distance (10 km) of sitting cross-country skiing at the Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. Thirty years old, from Pavia, with a degree in Sports Science in Pavia, Marchetti hit the mark on his first participation in the Games. «A hoped-for medal, desired at all costs and arrived in the last match – he says – I feared the Chinese, who were playing at home and I was right. In fatigue sports they were ready, nobody beat them, so our bronze is like gold. The Russian Paralympics? I was sorry they weren’t there, they are very dear friends and good people. I talked to their bosses and told them that if they need to, they can count on us. “

Bettini’s enterprise

Marchetti had been chasing the Paralympics since 2016, when he was alongside Alessandro Carvani Minetti, before joining the staff of the Nordic ski national team. Paolo is the first Pavia technician to win a medal at the Winter Games. «I fell in love with the Olympics when Paolo Bettini in 2004 won gold in cycling – explains the technician from Pavia – I was in my second year as a rider. I am pleased to be the first from Pavia to have contributed to the conquest of a winter Olympic podium. We went to Beijing knowing that we could have won a medal. We suffered and continued to fight, and at the last chance we won the medal, it means that we have our feet on the ground and we are a good group because with the pressure on us the risk was to flop. The night before the race I talked to Beppe Romele and told him to go full blast, he did it. He was great, when he arrived the joy exploded ». Marchetti also prepared the Games with an internship also in Pavia. «In this medal there is also a bit of Pavia – he concludes – I would like to be able to do other things in this city, the potential is there. I didn’t see the opening and closing ceremonies, the team relay took part in the second ». –