Namita Nayyar:
You must have a Coach who has been a catalyst who helped you pave the way to rise in your career with discipline and a never stopping attitude. Elaborate about his/her influence on your professional life?
Valentina Gottardi:
Even before a specific coach, there was the spirit of application and sacrifice that I learned in my family that gave me the right foundations, determination and energy that I have then applied in sport. But if I have to look back at these last three years spent in professional beach volleyball, I absolutely have to remember Caterina, the head coach of the team formed by me and Marta, and Ettore, the assistant coach. But Marta herself had a key role in my growth.
In international beach volleyball, the coach accompanies you until just before the match, also with briefings on the strategic aspects that you need to remember in specific moments, with those particular opponents and with those specific court and environmental conditions. But you then have to play without them by your side and things can change really fast in Beach volleyball so is it possible that you and your partner have to adapt the pre-game strategy.
Caterina and Marta were Italian champions before me. One off the court, the other on, they contributed enormously to disciplining my strong energy. Considering that to practice our sport, we live in a small team away from home all year round, sharing trips, training and sacrifices, but also many pleasant moments together, their influence on a young athlete like me has also positively extended to many other aspects. But not when it comes to the use of technologies, where they are the ones asking for my help!
Namita Nayyar:
Five athletic leisure brands you love to wear.
Valentina Gottardi:
Currently, my agency, KVA Sports, is in the process of identifying and talking with brands on potential opportunities, so I want to be sure to respect that process. What I can tell you, however, is that I really focus on quality, comfort and style when choosing what I wear.
Namita Nayyar:
Five travel destinations on your wish list.
Valentina Gottardi:
For a pleasure trip, I would alternate some trips abroad with a visit to the wonderful and iconic places that I have not yet visited in my beloved Italy. I therefore chose the Chianti Hills in Tuscany and the Valley of the Temples in Sicily. And on the international route, Japan at cherry blossom time, Canada’s forests in autumn and USA’s Yellowstone National Park. But the trip I want most of all is the one during which I could bring beach volleyball to a remote rural community and receive a shower of smiles in return.
Namita Nayyar:
Quote you live by.
Valentina Gottardi:
Nothing worth having comes easy
Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about a day in the life of ‘Valentina Gottardi’.
Valentina Gottardi:
I have a well-balanced life between sport, study, family, friends relations and free time for myself. Obviously, sport is the most important part of my typical day. Throughout the day, I perform two workout sessions, alternating physical conditioning training with those on the court, with the ball. Physiotherapy completes my daily work routine.
I dedicate the spaces between training sessions to studying, and I think it is really important to do both.
If I have a day off I love to spend some quality time with my friends, my family and my dog.
Namita Nayyar:
During the Covid pandemic. Tell us more about your routine to remain fit in those challenging times?
Valentina Gottardi:
When the pandemic hit, I was still playing indoor volleyball. During the lockdown, our coaches organized themselves and prepared a physical conditioning program that we could perform at home. We did it via video call to be together as a team. But I missed playing with the ball, so with my sister, who is two years older than me, I organized a green volleyball court in our garden and trained alone with many analytical exercises, not having enough players for matches.
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