The 24-year-old from San Giorgio was called in extremis with the blue. “If you work and believe in a goal, even the impossible becomes possible”
SAN GIORGIO DI NOGARO. European gold crowning a stellar season. For Sofia D’Odorico, 24 years old from San Giorgio di Nogaro, it was an incredible year. On Saturday he raised the Continental Cup, under the incredulous eyes of 20,000 Serbian fans, who whistled continuously for almost two hours of play. In the Belgrade bedlam, however, Italy was stronger than everything: stronger than Tijana Boškovic, the boos, the weight of a disappointing Olympics, the many criticisms received. In the final against Serbia won by 1-3, the spiker of San Zorz did not enter the field, but had found space in two of the qualifying matches.
He shouldn’t even have been in the squad for this European, but bad luck or luck – it depends on where you look at it – has put a hand in it. The injury to Caterina Bosetti, just before the start, convinced coach Davide Mazzanti to call up the Friulian who had done so much good during the Volley Nations League in June. The continental title is the icing on the cake of a truly incredible season for the striker from the Bassa, who has seen the hard work done in recent years repaid, all at once, since she left Friuli to chase the sport at a very young age. his dream. This year she experienced the championship playoffs with Trento as a great protagonist, then she was hired in Novara for next season. In May she played in the VNL in Rimini, the first real time in blue after the 2019 Universiade, and in July she graduated.
Match for the holidays in Corsica, it was called in extremis for the European Championship. Sofia is the new advancing: she has talent and stubbornness, qualities that could lead her to Paris, in 2024, as a great protagonist. «There could not have been a better ending to an amazing summer – she told us yesterday as she landed in Frankfurt, waiting for the flight that then brought her home -. Championship, VNL, graduation and a continental win. I shouldn’t even have been at this European Championship and instead here I am, European champion. Now I really feel in seventh heaven. I have some regrets, because perhaps I could have arrived at this appointment in another physical condition and therefore make a different contribution. The coach, however, chose this way and his choices are not discussed. Joining such a group, a very strong group, was incredible for me. Several times I asked myself if I was up to being in a group like this, made up of great talent and great potential ». On Saturday we saw her on the bench with the number 29, encouraging her teammates with enthusiasm and with her big smile. «The final was an absurd match to say the least: there were 20,000 people who whistled at us from the first to the last ball, so much so that at times they covered the referee’s whistle. It was difficult to play in this situation, but getting to the end and hearing that the crowd went silent was fulfilling. In the end, there was none left for anyone: we dominated. I personally tried to steal everything I could steal from this andexperience, obviously in the positive sense of the term. Everything I have learned will also be precious for my new adventure in Novara. This year I was given a great opportunity and it still doesn’t seem real to me. If you strongly believe in it and work to achieve a goal, even the impossible becomes possible ».
The European title also has great significance for the entire volleyball movement of Friuli Venezia Giulia, which celebrates the return, in blue, of a regional athlete. Although our land has always produced great sporting talents, it was since 2008 that a Fvg athlete was not wearing the jersey of the senior national team for a competition of international importance. The last was Sandra Vitez from Trieste, but for a very short period. The most glorious memories are linked to Elisa Togut from Gorizia, who in 2002 won the world championship, also winning the title of best player.