Mara’s parents, Diego and Manuela, her husband Andrea and their son Samuele
PUG. One hundred children celebrating for Mara. The image of the children of the Carlino Summer Center in front of the TV cheering for Samuele’s mother is the most beautiful photograph of the day of Tuesday 27 July. Before leaving for Japan Mara had visited all those children, to tell them that she was going to Tokyo to play for a medal.
She saw herself in those eyes and that innocence, she remembered her entire journey, from her first steps in the world of fencing until, at the age of 19, she left home to move to Rome.
For years, at the summer camp in Carlino there has been a preparatory course in fencing, held by Caterina, one of Mara’s sisters and a high-level saber. A screen was set up on Tuesday to follow the final together. Andrea Lo Coco took off the clothes of the preparer and helped prepare the room.
Together with them, Samuele and the parish priest Fr Elia Leita, she then watched the final against China with great emotion, letting herself be carried away by the comment of her friend Margherita Granbassi on Discovery plus.
«When we understood that the match would be against China – Andrea says – the tension rose a lot: the opponent was very strong and the risk of going home without a medal was great. Instead the girls were determined and Mara was amazing. His was a textbook assault, one that all masters would be proud of. Few female swordsmen in the world are capable of making a technically perfect assault. She succeeded.
We on the team knew Mara was ready to do great things; she succeeded and we are really delighted. It was a unique emotion ». Diego and Emanuela, Mara’s parents, saw the race with their daughter Caterina, at the latter’s home: Diego with the tranquility that distinguishes him, Emanuela with so much emotion.
When Mara won, Diego saw his daughter’s path of technical maturity crowned, Emanuela burst into liberating tears.
«The meeting with China made us suffer – says Diego – and luckily it ended with a success. Mara deserved this victory and I am happy that she has crowned a long journey in this way. I saw her very determined and also very mature in dealing with tension. In London, in 2012, it was precisely the tension that played a bad joke on her and prevented her from expressing herself at her best.
In Rio the team did not qualify and now, finally, they have been able to close a circle. She dominated the emotion, she remained focused. For us it was a great satisfaction as parents. At the end of the meeting my wife burst into tears with emotion ».
It all happened so quickly that there has not yet been time to organize the celebrations for her. Her parents will be there to welcome her and there will probably be many friends too. “We will certainly organize a great welcome – confirms Andrea – compatibly with the provisions of the moment”. –
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