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The queen of windsurfing: “Marta, take the podium”

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SASSARI. She is the last empress of windsurfing. Four Olympic medals (gold in Sydney, silver in Beijing and two bronzes in Atlanta and Athens) and a number of world and European titles that are hard to keep track of. Today Alessandra Sensini is 51 years old but that table has never abandoned her. He is the technical director of the under 19 national sailing team (in these days he is involved in the Youth World Championships on Lake Garda) and “yes, I go to sea by any means, by board, by boat, by swimming, for me the sea it is freedom, pure passion ».

In Tokyo for windsurfing Rs: X there is Marta Maggetti from Cagliari, indicated by many as her heir. On that table near Japan she won a silver in Beijing in 2008, she was 38 years old.

«Marta immediately showed that she has a good foot on the board, I was with her as technical director when she won the World Youth Championships in 2013, at the age of 17. He soon proved to be the new promise of the blue sail. I have also followed her recently and I can say that she has worked hard for the past four years. Even during the pandemic period he never gave up and the good results arrived in the last races before Tokyo prove it. She is a girl of few words, introverted, taciturn, but when she is on the table she tells her whole story ».

A prediction.

«The Olympics is a manifestation in itself, difficult to make predictions. In any case, don’t ask me. They are superstitious, like all sportsmen on the other hand. When I was competing I had so many of those superstitions and how much effort I did to abandon them, like that of never changing the costume with which a first race was won. The only thing I can say is that the Italy of windsurfing deserves the podium. Marta has the qualities to be able to do well and to play for a good result. Technically it has all the credentials, here is this I can say. For the rest, let’s cross our fingers ».

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Marta’s opponents are the very favorite Charline Picon, French, and Emma Wilson, British.

«Picon and Wilson arrived in Tokyo with a lot of medals around their necks, but this in an Olympics can be more of a disadvantage than an advantage, too much pressure, too much breath on the neck, being a favorite is never a good thing. Marta, on the other hand, has more freedom to play, she didn’t come to Japan as an outsider and this could make a difference in the end. And then we must not forget that the Olympics is a race in itself, different from all the others. A six-day long regatta, to be built day by day. It is not just a question of physical strength, it is a question of wind, strategy, tenacity, luck .. ».

Here, luck. In the last race Marta had a small accident and slipped from third to fourth position.

«I repeat, the Olympic one is a long regatta, no fear, you have plenty of time to recover. The important thing is not to lose focus. Come on Marta ».

How much has sailing changed since you competed?

«Marta is using the same board with which I won the silver in Beijing, in 2008. But it will be the last time. In Paris 2024 we will compete with the flying board, Iq foil, the same technology as the America’s Cup boats. It is an important evolution for windsurfing, everything will change, from the technique to the format of the regattas. I’m already preparing the youth team, it will be a good show ».

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What did you give up for windsurfing?

“A little bit I missed a normal family, a son. But I’d do it all again, including defeats. The table gave me the life I dreamed of as a child, free and independent. Now I have a partner, finally. His name is Maui, when we watch the Olympics on TV I jump on the sofa, he barks ».

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