Paralympics. De Silvestro is charged. “In China I will do all the competitions”

SAN VITO. While Beijing 2022 is in full swing, on the Cortina slopes there is an athlete who is preparing for the Paralympics which, also in Beijing, will be staged from 4 to 13 March. He is René De Silvestro, blue from San Vito di Cadore, Sitting category, standard bearer of the Druscié Cortina ski club but, above all, super-G world champion at the recent world championships in Lillehammer, the Norwegian world championship in which René, in addition to gold, was brought home a bronze (in combined).

René, this is a busy season. First the World Cup, last year’s recovery, now the Olympics. How are you preparing for the five-circle engagement.

«These days the work is finishing. Together with my coach, Luca Lacedelli, I train in the Cinque Torri, in Col Gallina, on the Faloria and also in San Vito. We are only doing quality: a few laps done well, as if it were a race ».

When will I leave?

“February 24”.

A lot ahead of the start of the races.

«Yes, we will go to China a few days before the competitions. This will allow us to become familiar with the tracks that no one knows yet ».

What races will you do?

«He will miss the descent of March 5th. I’ll do all the rest: the super-G of the 6, the super-combined of the 8, the giant of the 10 and the slalom of the 12 “.

What are you aiming for?

«I aim to do well everywhere, I know that I can express myself at my best in every area. Then what arrives comes ».

A great awareness, yours. New, at least in part. About the two medals won in Lillehammer?

«The first World Cup races gave me important certainties. Lillehammer confirmed them ».

In Norway you won your first world medals, arriving in front of opponents who until last season were constantly coming in front of you. Has anything changed in their attitude towards you?

“They paid me great compliments. I would say the attitude hasn’t changed. Even if they know that, in any case, they will have to deal with me ».

Let’s stay in Lillehammer. You won the bronze and a few days later the gold. Then, on the very evening of the triumph, you were stopped by a positivity to Covid (asymptomatic). It must not have been easy to stop right on the most beautiful spot, and do the quarantine for a week in the hotel, when there was no giant, perhaps the specialty that suits you best, and slalom.

“The fact that I have won two medals has greatly contributed to keeping me calm. The situation would have been different if I hadn’t won anything. I will say more: the fact of not having been able to compete in either giant or slalom gave me even greater motivation from an Olympic perspective. The quarantine? Also in this case, the fact that I got on the podium twice helped me to remain calm. The video calls then helped me to make the hours less boring ».

Speaking of the Olympics, one of the most evocative moments of the Games is the opening ceremony. Will you be there?

“Yes, I think I’ll be able to live it.”

Still on the subject of the Olympics, are you following the ares of these days?

«I am looking at something, even if following the races at night is not easy. Men’s alpine skiing has so far disappointed a bit. I expect a lot from the two races that I like best: the slalom and the giant ».